Digital forensic officers & digital smart home devices

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.028589

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. How many digital forensic officers are able to gather data from smart home devices within the digital forensic unit?
2. What are the issues the digital forensic unit faces when analysing data from smart home devices?
3. What are the procedures, principles and legislation that must be adhered to when handling, obtaining and analysing digital smart home devices within the digital forensic unit?
4. What software/ hardware is used to analyse and extract data from smart home devices?
5. Is the digital forensic laboratory software/ hardware used accredited under the accreditation ISO17025?
6. Are write blockers used to analyse data obtained from smart home devices?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - How many digital forensic officers are able to gather data from smart home devices within the digital forensic unit?

It would depend on the device as to what skillset it requires.

Q2 - What are the issues the digital forensic unit faces when analysing data from smart home devices?

Depends on the device, security and encryption and if we have examined the same device type previously. Further the data may actually be in the Cloud.

Q3 - What are the procedures, principles and legislation that must be adhered to when handling, obtaining and analysing digital smart home devices within the digital forensic unit?

The same as any other device. Our internal procedures, plus relevant legislation.

The principles are all based on information that can be found here - Forensics|College of Policing and the legislation is PACE.

Q4 - What software/ hardware is used to analyse and extract data from smart home devices?

This depends on the device and what methods we need to use.

Q5 - Is the digital forensic laboratory software/ hardware used accredited under the accreditation ISO17025?

Not currently.

Q6 - Are write blockers used to analyse data obtained from smart home devices?

This depends on the device and what methods we need to use.