Devices returned?
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Hi all,
a little backstory first: we had the knock about 14 months ago and they searched all devices at our home. They seized one device for further forensics as they found 1 cat c image in the "cache"? (Sorry im not very IT savvy!). Fast forward to a couple of months ago and we were told the device has now been sent off to external company for forensic analysis. Just recently my SO has a received a message from the OIC to arrange a suitable time for the device to be returned and to be updated on the investigation. Now I don't want to get my hopes up but I thought they didn't return devices unless the case was closed/NFA'd? As surely the device is to be used in evidence should the case go to trial.
i know the advice I might get is to just sit back and wait but I'm lost in my thoughts here as its a bit of a curveball - has anyone else received devices back and still been charged?
thanks in advance!
a little backstory first: we had the knock about 14 months ago and they searched all devices at our home. They seized one device for further forensics as they found 1 cat c image in the "cache"? (Sorry im not very IT savvy!). Fast forward to a couple of months ago and we were told the device has now been sent off to external company for forensic analysis. Just recently my SO has a received a message from the OIC to arrange a suitable time for the device to be returned and to be updated on the investigation. Now I don't want to get my hopes up but I thought they didn't return devices unless the case was closed/NFA'd? As surely the device is to be used in evidence should the case go to trial.
i know the advice I might get is to just sit back and wait but I'm lost in my thoughts here as its a bit of a curveball - has anyone else received devices back and still been charged?
thanks in advance!
My OH has received devices back but has been charged. There was no evidence on his devices but he was charged because he didn't give a no comment interview xx
Hi, sometimes they do return devices. I suspect, but don't know that the ones that get returned are the ones where the Police find what they were looking for easily and feel they've got what they need. X
After the first knock, they seized £1000's worth of equipment including my sons new pc (he was 12), that he paid for with his birthday money. Only 3 devices were ordered to be destroyed by the Judge. We never got the rest back. The Police wrote to me to tell me I could pay the outsourcing company £70 per hour (7 years ago) to go through them all. It would've cost a bomb and seeing as the ex left me trying to survive on benefits, there was no way I could pay that. I lost the lot, including hundreds of family photos that weren't backed up. X
We are only at the start and praying no downloads because we know my sons reported indecent stuff on snapchat and clicked on links that turned out were not legit when looking at music or game info.
The police told us if images found the devices would be destroyed so wouldn't get back. If no images case closed and devices returned.
The police told us if images found the devices would be destroyed so wouldn't get back. If no images case closed and devices returned.
Thanks for the replies - I guess the only thing to do is wait and see.
We were told at the beginning that if any images are found then the device would be destroyed so I hope this is slightly positive news!
We were told at the beginning that if any images are found then the device would be destroyed so I hope this is slightly positive news!
We got everything returned as soon as the forensics were done, laptop, all memory cards with family photos etc the only thing that they kept was his phone as that was what had the images on. Apparently the OIC said if they give you it back the police are "distributing" images.
Was a bit tricky as he didn't have a phone for a while (was very expensive smart phone to replace) and all the other devices meant we couldn't do many of the courses or access helplines except off my own phone or via other peoples computers as all the support resources and counselling is carried out online. Even paying for parking at SAA sessions was using an app. (ironic or what).
Was a bit tricky as he didn't have a phone for a while (was very expensive smart phone to replace) and all the other devices meant we couldn't do many of the courses or access helplines except off my own phone or via other peoples computers as all the support resources and counselling is carried out online. Even paying for parking at SAA sessions was using an app. (ironic or what).
Over 20 devices were taken. I was never given a list although they included items of mine and my son's. My laptop had thousands of family photos on. I got them back after he was sent to prison but only after I chased them up. Felt like a criminal going down the police station several times to get it all.
Update - still waiting for OIC to get back to him about a date. The wait is killing me I just want to know what's happening!
I'm taking this delay as slightly positive as surely if there was anything further found there would be a 2nd interview and they wouldn't be returning device.
I'm taking this delay as slightly positive as surely if there was anything further found there would be a 2nd interview and they wouldn't be returning device.
Hopefully you hear soon when you will get them back. We are in the same boat. It's a waiting game even though we got told it would be soon!
The Judge actually order the police to wipe my sons devices and give them back (phone and a tablet) as they would have been presents and expensive. The police had never had this before but we also was worried, what if they didn't wipe them properly. We had already replaced his phone and the tablet wasn't a great one so I emailed the police and gave them permission to distroy.
My person had a few items returned before his sentence, can't remember if before charging. It was only devices that had nothing on them
The ones that had evidence had to be destroyed. But he did put in a request to recover some photos and files. Thankfully he remembered the file locations.
The ones that had evidence had to be destroyed. But he did put in a request to recover some photos and files. Thankfully he remembered the file locations.
I'm currently going through this and I've been told we will not get the device back it will be destroyed: