Using GPS geo-location data embedded in images and videos from a mobile device to place offenders at the scene at the time of a criminal damage offence.
| Purpose |
Investigation cases
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|---|---|
| Topic |
Criminal damage and arson
Digital, data and analytics
Investigation
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| Organisation | |
| Contact |
Detective Inspector Calum Meikle |
| Email address | |
| Start date |
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Description
Northumbria Police received a report of criminal damage to a sycamore tree that had been felled, which also caused associated damage to Hadrian’s Wall. The tree in question was the iconic Sycamore Gap tree located near Once Brewed village in Northumberland. Examination of the scene showed that a wedge of wood had been removed from the tree, which was missing.
On 31 October, Northumbria Police, supported by Cumbria Constabulary, attended the addresses of two suspects who were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, and their addresses were searched under Section 32 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE).
Mobile telephones belonging to the suspects were seized and examined using the Cellebrite kiosk download. Several significant images and a video were identified that were believed to be linked to the offence.
Line of enquiry
Using specialist digital techniques, GPS and geolocation data embedded in the video confirmed that:
- the video had been taken by the mobile device it was found on
- the video was taken at Sycamore Gap at the relevant time of the offence
The data for the still images, showing a large chainsaw and wedge of wood, were confirmed through geolocation to have been taken at the address of one of the suspects.
This address was searched and a black Range Rover identified as having travelled into Northumbria on the night in question was also seized. Images taken of the boot area of the vehicle were compared to images showing the wedge of wood and chainsaw, which had been taken from the suspect’s mobile phone. It was established that these images matched the boot space of the suspect’s vehicle because of a distinctive crack in the plastic boot-catch surround.
Specialist assistance from the National Crime Agency demonstrated that the wedge of wood was a physical match to the missing section of the Sycamore Gap tree and that the image was taken in the boot space of the seized vehicle.
Outcome
Both suspects were subsequently sentenced to four years and three months in prison.