Project Odyssey: How digital forensics is transforming policing

When justice comes at a cost

For many victims of domestic abuse, coercive control, and sexual offences, mobile phones are a bridge to safety, security, and discretion. Yet for too long, seeking justice has meant being forced to hand over that lifeline indefinitely.

In an age where our smartphones are an extension of our own personal identity, data has become an important issue in policing.¹ Mobile phones store conversations, call records, GPS data, and imagery - all of which could be important evidence. With the growing number and complexity of devices seized and examined in investigations, lengthy turnaround times are not uncommon.

Whilst devices are processed in Digital Forensics Labs (DFU), victims and witnesses have to wait for many months to have their phones returned, while investigators examine data on the hunt for crucial evidence.

This has led to what some campaigners and the previous Victims Commissioner (Dame Vera Baird QC) have called “digital strip-searches”, where victims feel their entire digital history is on trial, rather than the suspect.² The emotional toll on survivors can be immense, leaving them feeling disempowered and vulnerable and, in some cases, has even deterred them from pursuing justice entirely.

Detective Superintendent Paul Keasey, Head of Specialist Operations at Gloucestershire Constabulary, understood the gravity of the issue.

A new approach: fast, targeted and victim-centred

Project Odyssey set out to change this. The project started in response to several high-profile rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) cases in Gloucestershire Constabulary. At its core, the initiative sought to correct an ongoing imbalance: the long-standing practice of requesting victims to surrender their mobile phones for forensic examination, often for weeks or months, in order to secure evidence. Using specialist data extraction equipment, the team introduced a forensic method that isolates only relevant data - quickly, selectively, and with the victim’s full knowledge and consent.

At the heart of the process is time-slicing, a forensic technique that isolates only the target data within a specific timeframe, removing the need to download everything from a device. This directly addresses concerns raised by campaigners and watchdogs about police overreach, ensuring victims no longer need to sacrifice their privacy to seek justice.³

The impact has been immediate. Many victims no longer face lengthy, distressing separations from their phones while also saving police both time and money through quicker charging decisions, shorter lab backlogs and earlier guilty pleas. The process restores a sense of control, turning forensic evidence collection from an invasive procedure into a more transparent, compassionate and collaborative exercise.

From concept to reality

Introducing new technology into policing is never straightforward and at least some scepticism was inevitable. Would this approach hold up in court? Could it be misused? Would officers have the necessary skills to apply it consistently?

At the proof-of-concept stage, the project has demonstrated that digital forensic investigations can be fast, precise, and respectful of victim autonomy. The project was funded by the Home Office and the Police Digital Service (PDS). It was initially developed as a proof of concept through Police Science, Technology, Analysis and Research (STAR) funding⁴. Early adopters, Gloucestershire Police, have shown its impact in active cases, delivering clear and measurable results. Wait times for victim and witness devices were significantly reduced and victims regained control over their devices, no longer forced to sacrifice access for the sake of evidence collection. Transparency also improved, as victims could see exactly what data was extracted, addressing concerns over privacy and potential misuse.

In May 2023, the Victim Experience Survey (VES) was released on 57% (108/189) of deployments and assessed how victims and witnesses feel about the Odyssey process, focusing on trust, confidence, understanding, and treatment. According to the results, all respondents felt the Odyssey officer explained the process clearly and understood what would happen to their data. Further, all respondents felt treated with dignity and respect and 85% said their opinion of Gloucestershire Constabulary improved, with 85% more likely to report future incidents.⁵

Restoring trust in digital policing

Devon & Cornwall Police has implemented strict measures to ensure responsible use. The technology is limited to victim and witness-led investigations, limiting its use on suspect devices obtained through legal means.

To maintain the highest standards, all officers undergo rigorous training, ensuring they understand both the technical and ethical dimensions of digital forensics. Compliance is reinforced through clear regulations tailored to their roles, and Devon & Cornwall Police is on a journey towards International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accreditation, working to embed the highest forensic and ethical standards into every stage of its operations.

Scaling Up: The next phase of Odyssey

There are ambitions to roll out a national blueprint for Project Odyssey to scale the benefits across UK law enforcement.

A key priority moving forward will be establishing a hub-and-spoke model across Devon and Cornwall Police, bringing digital hubs closer to officers to reduce inefficiencies. These hubs will be staffed by dual-trained officers, equipped as both investigators and digital evidence specialists, ensuring more effective collection and handling of digital evidence. Officers were initially involved on a voluntary basis, whereas if plans are successful, a team of dedicated officers will work full time through the hub-and-spoke model across Devon & Cornwall.

At the same time, the equipment continues to be updated and existing methods for extracting data are being refined, particularly for using the technology to analyse social media content. Assessing the real-world impact is also a priority. This year, a follow-on victim survey will evaluate how the initiative has influenced policing outcomes, providing data to refine and improve the system further. The project would also benefit from a third-party independent evaluation to assess and analyse its impact, a need that is being incorporated into current funding bids to support dedicated research capacity.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, Chris Nelson, thinks the impact will be profound, saying: “I hope it will soon be rolled out to every force in the country”.⁶

Technology holds immense power to deliver justice and compassionate policing but only if wielded responsibly, with victims, witnesses and the public at its heart. Project Odyssey is one of many endeavours by policing to balance both justice and victim-led autonomy - one doesn’t have to come at the expense of the other.