Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce backlogs in police digital forensic examination of seized phones, tablets and other devices, and whether guidance is issued to police forces on mitigating the impact on people who rely on those devices for caring responsibilities, banking, medical information and essential online services.

We recognise that delays in examining digital devices can have an impact on criminal investigations, victims and individuals who rely on those devices for everyday essential services. Our plans to reform police forensic services into a nationally managed capability will enable new technologies and best practices to be rolled out faster and more consistently.

The NPCC and College of Policing have issued best practice guidance on police storage and retention of devices.