Case Study: Digital Forensic Investigations for Legal Aid Funding: Mobile Phone Forensics in Criminal Defence cases

Client Background 

Are you a Solicitor concerned with how admissible and powerful mobile phone forensics can be in court? This is the case study for you. In this case, a criminal defence solicitor with over 40 years of experience approached our digital forensic team, requesting mobile phone forensics. The solicitor acted on behalf of a client who was held on remand, with the case funded by legal aid. After receiving instructions, our team got straight to work, producing a thorough report of all findings on the mobile device, including all relevant data from deleted messages. The solicitor was able to present these findings confidently to the court, knowing that all evidence collection and forensic procedures met the highest standards and were compliant with legal aid requirements. The evidence uncovered helped strengthen and raise interesting questions around the case.  

The Challenge: Mobile Phone Forensics Digital Forensic Investigations 

The solicitor required a full forensic download of the client’s mobile device. The focus was on extracting message chains involving specific individuals, including those from SMS, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms. Questions arose regarding the potential deletion of messages, and our team was instructed to recover as much relevant data as possible within a given date range.  

Our Approach: Evidence Collection and Forensic Imaging 

Upon receiving these instructions, we provided a detailed quote for the work, enabling the solicitor to secure prior authority from the legal aid agency. Our investigation began once the CRM4 (legal aid authority form) was received. 

The client’s device, which the police had not forensically analysed, was held in the client’s valuable bag while they were in prison. Our secure, vetted courier collected the device to ensure the chain of custody and evidence collection remained intact throughout the process. 

Mobile Phone Forensics Process 

• Device Collection: Our secure driver retrieved the mobile phone from prison, maintaining strict evidence collection protocols. 

• Forensic Imaging: Using industry-standard forensic software, we created a forensic image of the device, preserving all data for Mobile Phone Forensics Digital Forensic Investigations. 

• Data Analysis: We examined SMS, WhatsApp, and specified social media platforms for relevant communications within the requested date range. The CYFOR team used advanced techniques to recover deleted messages. 

• Court-Admissible Reporting: We prepared a detailed, court-admissible forensic report, documenting all relevant communications. The messages of interest were exhibited on a USB for use in legal proceedings. 

Outcome: Supporting Criminal Defence with Mobile Phone Forensics 

Our Mobile Phone Forensic investigation supported the defence team’s case preparation by ensuring they had the most applicable and supportive digital evidence. They did this while maintaining compliance with legal aid funding requirements. The solicitor could present the findings confidently to the court, knowing that all evidence collection and forensic procedures met the highest standards. 

Conclusion 

In this case, mobile phone forensics is critical in criminal defence, particularly when legal aid funding is involved. Through instructing our experts, the legal team had confidence that evidence collection, forensic imaging, and court-admissible reporting were all handled with the utmost integrity. 

CYFOR Group supports legal professionals across criminal defence, prosecution, and family law with robust, expert-led digital forensic services. 

To learn more or speak with a member of our team:
📞 0330 135 5734
✉️ contact@cyfor.co.uk