Northallerton has become the centre of a crimefighting revolution, with a cutting-edge forensics lab being set up in the town.

CACI, a leading UK data and technology company, has launched its new digital forensic laboratory to build on the success of its parent company's facility in Virginia, United States.

The new lab will cater to UK law enforcement organisations by providing specialist digital forensics services. Over the last 18 months, CACI's team of digital forensic professionals has worked to establish the new UK operation, drawing from the experience in the United States, which has been providing service for the past decade.

Richard Cockerill, operations director in Northallerton, highlighted the huge rise in the use of digital devices worldwide over the past decade.

 “Over 90 per cent of crimes involve a digital component, underscoring the unprecedented demand placed on police digital forensics units supporting criminal investigations,” he said.

CACI's digital forensic laboratory has been designed to mirror a typical police force setup, adhering to industry standards and employing the same tools and processes. This facility offers police DFUs additional resources and capacity to meet growing operational demands.

The digital forensic team at CACI has also developed a suite of support services to assist police DFUs in obtaining and retaining ISO accreditation while ensuring compliance with the codes of conduct set by forensic science regulator.

Since the beginning of this year, it has been providing a digital forensics proficiency testing service, with several forces already participating. The service will undergo assessment by UKAS later this year, with the aim of receiving ISO/IEC 17043:2023 accreditation.

“We acknowledge that the digital revolution will lead to an increased burden on DFUs, as their current methods and processes will struggle to cope,” Richard said.

“CACI is committed to collaborating with forces and their DFU teams to alleviate some of the burden, allowing organisations to explore how smarter use of technology can address their long-term challenges."