Digital Forensic Unit staff (FOI)

Request

Please could you answer the following questions – they are split in to two sections.

Basic Statistics and Training

A

In January 2022 how many Police Officers and Police Staff work in Digital Forensics / Cyber for you?

B

What are the job titles that exist in your Digital Forensic Uni / Cyber Unit? Can you please also tell me what the salary scales are for these roles? For example, one force might have Digital Forensic Technicians, Pay = Scale 5.

C

What is your annual budget allocation for Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigations?

D

Are you already ISO 17025 accredited with regards to Digital Forensics – Yes / No?

E

Are you working towards being ISO 17025 accredited – Yes / No?

F

Please can you confirm what mandatory courses new recruits are put on when they start work in Digital Forensics? For example, some forces insist on recruits going on the 'CoP Core Skills in data recovery and analysis' course. Just the names of the courses will be okay if possible.

G

Following on from the above Question F – if new recruits are put on specific courses, would them having a related degree in Digital Forensics negate the need for them to undertake a mandatory training course such as the 'CoP Core Skills in data recovery and analysis'?

Staff Welfare

H

Are there any mandatory periodic psychological assessments or offers of counselling for Police Staff and Police Officers involved in Digital Forensics / Cyber? This relates to staff who have to view upsetting, graphic and illegal material such as child abuse images or terrorist material.

I

Carrying on from the above Question H – if there are any psychological assessments or counselling, are they enforced and does this spend come out of a force wide budget or the Digital Forensics departmental budget?

J

On the subject of illegal images of children, when grading such content – are breaks away from the computer offered and enforced?

K

Do you have a limit on how many hours individual Police Staff and Police Officers spend grading illegal images at any one time?

L

Does your Digital Forensic Unit routinely attend crime scenes?

M

If your Digital Forensic Unit Officers and Staff attend crime scenes – do they have access to body worn video equipment?

N

If your Digital Forensic Unit Officers and Staff attend crime scenes – do they have access to PPE and body armour?

Response

Basic Statistics and Training

A

As of January 2022, seven police staff and one police officer were working for the Digital Services Unit (DFU) of the States of Jersey Police.

B

The job titles within the DFU are Manager, Investigator, Technician, and Detective Constable. The civil service salary scales of these roles are between grades 8 and 11. Jersey public sector pay scales, which includes police officers, are available on www.gov.je

Public sector payscales (gov.je)

C

The DFU does not have its own specific budget.

D and E

The DFU is not required to be ISO 17025 accredited as the States of Jersey Police is not a Home Office force. The DFU does however work to ISO 17025 best practice where applicable.

F

The following course is a mandatory requirement for new recruits in the DFU: "Core Skills in Data Recovery and Analysis". Staff within the DFU may be required to undertake additionally identified software courses appropriate to their level of experience and role requirement.

G

The need for the above mandatory courses may be dispensed with if a digital forensics related degree is already held and relevant core skills modules (or equivalent) were covered.

Staff Welfare

H

Currently, appointments with qualified Wellbeing Officers are mandatory every six months. Mandatory psychological risk assessments and any identified follow-ups will be introduced this year.

I

As above, psychological assessments will be mandatory. The budget for this will come from the force wide budget.

J

Breaks are not enforced but are available to the individual as and when required.

K

Time restrictions for the grading of illegal images are not imposed on staff within the DFU.

L

Members of the DFU do not routinely visit crime scenes.

M

Should a visit to a crime scene be necessary, body worn video equipment is available if required.

N

PPE (personal protective equipment) and body armour is available should members of the DFU be required to attend crime scenes.