UK police and prosecutors losing sensitive evidence due to ancient computer systems - Polidicks

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36027365[/url] [quote]Sensitive details held by police and prosecutors in England are being lost because evidence is still being shared on computer discs, watchdogs say. Police and prosecution watchdogs looked at criminal justice computer systems and found the testimonies of underage and vulnerable victims and witnesses had been kept on portable discs. In one case a DVD interview of a 12-year-old sex offence victim was lost. The CPS said it and the police were reviewing their handling of such data.[/quote] [quote]The report said in the case where the DVD interview of a 12-year-old sex offence victim was lost a new system for tracking evidence had to be introduced.[/quote] [quote]The report also cited one case where the CPS was fined £200,000 by the Information Commissioner's Office in November 2015 after laptops containing videos of police interviews with victims and witnesses were stolen from a private contractor's studio. It also said that some police forces were using computer systems that had been in place for up to 20 years.[/quote]

[quote]The report also cited one case where the CPS was fined £200,000 by the Information Commissioner's Office in November 2015 after laptops containing videos of police interviews with victims and witnesses were stolen from a private contractor's studio. It also said that some police forces were using computer systems that had been in place for up to 20 years.[/quote] "we cant afford new technology, but please fine us" Then goes on to say that good progress has been made by installing wi-fi in courts. What a joke. Pay more taxes, get new technology.

I blame the shitty PM David for this since he is gutting so much stuff in the Uk

this is what happens when you don't upgrade to windows 10

[QUOTE=theevilldeadII;50125906]I blame the shitty PM David for this since he is gutting so much stuff in the Uk[/QUOTE] Not just him, but pretty much, they've cut back spending so far that public services are suffering badly.

This appears to be a reoccurring problem with any government infrastructure around the globe. Typically an institution will install a set of hardware with the expectation that it will last "X" number of years, but once those years have been reached there's no money in the budget and an upgrade bumped another amount of years. And then another, and another, and so on. I understand the concept of if it isn't broke don't fix it. Hell American ICBM's and nuclear plants still use 30-40+ year old computer tech since they work exactly as they were designed to and don't absolutely need an upgrade. However a lot of institutions need the upgrades, and sadly they are not given top priority when they really should be.

That's some crazy shit, evidence should be considered top priority at least 3 copies in different locations.

[QUOTE=cody8295;50133420]That's some crazy shit, evidence should be considered top priority at least 3 copies in different locations.[/QUOTE] Yeah it seems crazy that they don't back up vital pieces of evidence like that.

This is saddening to hear, thinking of the children involved...

Britain's IT isn't exactly top-dog, yeah. I'm lucky to get borderline-decent internet in my area, I don't want to think about how threadbare it must be out in the South-West.

[QUOTE=Code3Response;50125736]"we cant afford new technology, but please fine us" Then goes on to say that good progress has been made by installing wi-fi in courts. What a joke. Pay more taxes, get new technology.[/QUOTE] Don't some of the US army peeps still use floppy disks? I guess replacing a load of infrastructure gets very expensive. Only a few companies can do it and they know they can charge an arm and a leg.

[QUOTE=ironman17;50136562]Britain's IT isn't exactly top-dog, yeah. I'm lucky to get borderline-decent internet in my area, I don't want to think about how threadbare it must be out in the South-West.[/QUOTE] Try getting decent internet outside a city when you're not in south England.

[QUOTE=mdeceiver79;50136568]Don't some of the US army peeps still use floppy disks? I guess replacing a load of infrastructure gets very expensive. Only a few companies can do it and they know they can charge an arm and a leg.[/QUOTE] I think the B-52 is about to get an upgrade pacjage to windows XP

[QUOTE=cody8295;50133420]That's some crazy shit, evidence should be considered top priority at least 3 copies in different locations.[/QUOTE] thats expensive

[QUOTE=cody8295;50133420]That's some crazy shit, evidence should be considered top priority at least 3 copies in different locations.[/QUOTE] Know what else is top priority? Having officers on staff, having officers trained, having working vehicles, etc.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;50138517]Know what else is top priority? Having officers on staff, having officers trained, having working vehicles, etc.[/QUOTE] Not to mention actually having the capacity to send out officers to respond to calls. Budget cuts have left local police forces horribly understaffed.