Scotland rolls out digital evidence-sharing tech 

World-leading, £33m DESC initiative enables police, prosecutors, defence lawyers, court staff and judges to access a secure, unified digital system for collecting and storing evidence. 

Digital evidence sharing capability (DESC) is being rolled out across Scotland following a successful pilot programme in Dundee. The system is now being expanded across Tayside and Forth Valley, with a phased national rollout expected to be completed by autumn 2025.

Photo by Parker Coffman

The aim is to provide benefits for victims, police, prosecutors, defence lawyers and courts. DESC enables evidence to be collected, stored, processed and managed digitally in a secure way, and shared from crime scene to court room. That’s important given the volume of evidence handled by the courts.  

For example, during the pilot in Dundee, which ran from January 2023 to April 2024, some 19,500 pieces of evidence were handled by DESC. In doing so, the new system saved almost 550 hours of police officers’ time. 

Other benefits of the system include fewer victims and witnesses having to attend court, as well as cases coming to court and concluding more quickly. In reducing the need for physical evidence to be collected and stored, DESC also cuts transport costs and related CO2 emissions. 

Evidence currently handled by DESC includes CCTV footage and photographs, as well as data and other materials from computers and mobile devices. As the system is expanded, it will also accommodate documents and recordings of police interviews. Members of the public and businesses are also able to submit digital evidence, such as material recorded on mobile phones; to do so, they are sent a link by a police officer.  

Initially, DESC will handle evidence related to summary cases, with solemn cases included at a late date. 

The Scottish government are to invest £33m in the initiative over 10 years.  

Justice Secretary Angela Constance says: ‘This is a world first for Scotland – a truly transformational programme where digital evidence is managed securely from crime scene to court room, benefiting victims, police officers, prosecutors, defence lawyers, court staff and judges. During the successful pilot in Dundee, DESC allowed justice system partners to collect, manage and share digital evidence in a streamlined and efficient way, helping to get cases resolved more quickly. It has also freed up a significant amount of time for police officers, creating additional capacity for frontline policing.’ 

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs adds: ‘The national rollout of DESC is a significant step forward in modernising the collection, management and secure storage of digital evidence. Until now, police officers have relied on transferring digital evidence such as mobile phone images or CCTV onto USB sticks or discs, before delivering them to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. 

‘Through DESC, officers can obtain and share digital evidence securely and efficiently, saving them time and reducing delays. This supports victims and witnesses to achieve faster justice outcomes. The national roll-out will also provide the groundwork for further modernisation of the criminal justice process including supporting the introduction of body worn video for frontline police officers.’ 

Andrew Laing, Deputy Head of Local Court at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, says: ‘Being able to see CCTV evidence of an assault or shoplifting taking place, or Ring doorbell footage of a person committing an act of domestic abuse as soon as the matter is reported by police has allowed prosecutors to make better and quicker decisions and faster sharing with the defence to enable the early resolution of cases.    

‘COPFS and criminal justice partners in Police Scotland, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, the defence community and judiciary will continue to work to transform the justice system and ensure cases move through the system as efficiently as possible, with speedier outcomes and significantly less inconvenience to victims and witnesses.’ 

Sheriff Principal Gillian Wade KC adds: ‘DESC facilitates easier sharing of digital evidence which can be crucial for determining the strength of a case at an early stage and allowing for more informed decisions about allegations against an accused person. This dovetails well with other initiatives currently being implemented such as the Summary Case Management pilots.  Both have at their core the importance of early disclosure and engagement alongside multi-agency co-operation. This approach leads to fewer unnecessary hearings, fewer witness citations and a reduction in the number of outstanding trials.’  

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