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Smart phones becoming more common in evidence gathering

In the last issue of Your Expert Witness we reported on the setting up of websites by police to allow witnesses to upload pictures and videos of the terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. The actions demonstrate the embracing by police of people’s digital lives and the increasing importance of technology in evidence gathering.

The moves follow a statement last year by then-Home Secretary Theresa May on the subject. She said: “Citizens increasingly capture what is happening around them on video, generating potential evidence of crimes. Policing has not yet caught up.

CybSafe to place cyber security training at the heart of Law Society’s services for its members

CybSafe, the GCHQ-accredited cyber security training platform, today announces a partnership with the Law Society, the professional body for solicitors, placing cyber security training at the heart of the Law Society’s information security marketplace. As one of just five certified partners of the Law Society, CybSafe will help to inform the Law Society’s future cyber security training for its members.

Law firms must continue to safeguard the highly sensitive information they work with on a day-to-day basis. According to the Law Society, effective training is essential to combat the substantial and credible threat to the cyber security of UK law firms from increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks.

Consultant warned of ransomware attack

Leading healthcare IT consultant Dr Saif Abed (pictured) must have experienced an acute bout of déjà vu when reports of the ransomware attack on the NHS began filtering through from such disparate sources as hospitals, GP surgeries and even pharmacies.

Dr Abed, a founding partner of consultancy AbedGraham, had blogged back in August last year – under the chillingly prophetic title Ransomware will kill a patient – that such software was a major threat because of the procedures it could disrupt.

CCTV: national strategy launched

On 14 March the Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Tony Porter, launched a national surveillance camera strategy for England and Wales, to help keep people safe in public places and respect their right to privacy.

The strategy aims to provide direction and leadership in the surveillance camera community, to enable system operators to understand good and best practice and their legal obligations – such as those contained in the Protection of Freedoms Act, Data Protection Act and Private Security Industry Act.

In a statement, the commissioner’s office said: “It is the commissioner’s strategic vision to ensure the public are assured that any use of surveillance camera systems in a public place helps to protect and keep them safe, while respecting the individual’s right to privacy. That assurance is based upon deployment which is proportionate to a legitimate purpose, and transparency which demonstrates compliance with best and good practice and relevant legal obligations.

The Law Society of Scotland honoured at new Cyber Awards

The Law Society of Scotland has scooped a top honour for its ‘Smartcard’ initiative which offers law firms a robust and reliable confirmation of credentials, helping reassure the public they are consulting with a trusted legal advisor.

The professional body – which currently has over 11,000 members - was named winner of the Leading Light Innovation Award at the inaugural Scottish Cyber Awards, ahead of fellow finalists: Net-Defence and Payfont.

Lorna Jack, Chief Executive of the Law Society of Scotland, was pleased to see the society recognised for their work in reassuring clients and expediting processes like submissions to courts and tribunals.