On completion of this module, you will be able to... ‘
Module Learning Outcome and University Learning Outcome

1. CRITICALLY ANALYSE THE MANAGEMENT, WORKING AND ORGANISATION OF A FORENSIC COMPUTING LABORATORY AND ITS FUNCTIONS.
Knowledge and Understanding, Analysis

2. CRITICALLY ANALYSE AND EVALUATE THE ROLE OF A FORENSIC COMPUTING EXPERT WITHIN THE UK LEGAL SYSTEM AND WITHIN THE IT INDUSTRY.
Learning, Analysis, Reflection

3. DEMONSTRATE SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF AND CRITICALLY EVALUATE PROFESSIONAL, LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES RELEVANT TO FORENSIC COMPUTING PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNICATE THESE ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS.
Enquiry, Reflection

4. DEMONSTRATE PROFESSIONAL WRITING SKILLS AND PRESENTATION IN SUPPORT OF THE OTHER MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES.
Communication

Reference:
University 8 Learning Outcomes
1) Knowledge and Understanding
2) Learning
3) Enquiry
4) Analysis
5) Problem Solving
6) Communication
7) Application
8) Reflection

Assignment 1 covers Learning Outcomes 4.
Report based on a topic agreed with Staffordshire Police HTCU and module leader to be used as part of a knowledge base submission for Staffordshire Police HTCU.

Assignment 2 covers Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3
A report based on a review of some aspects of the professional and legal constraints of a forensic investigation

This module will focus on the legal, professional and business aspects of Forensic Computing. To this end, students will normally attend professional activity sessions within Staffordshire Police Digital Forensics team. Normally some part of the student’s time on the module will be spent engaged with work and activities within Staffordshire Police’s Digital Forensics team. The exact nature of this work and time involved may vary from year to year. Work with Staffordshire Police will require appropriate clearance being obtained. If for whatever reason you do not obtain clearance, then a program of suitable and equivalent professional activity, coupled with and case study experience, will be used to achieve the learning outcomes of the module.

Main topic areas covered:

International and transnational legal context and structures.
Digital evidence controls.
Processing crime and incident scenes.
Expert testimony.
Legal, ethical, security and standardisation issues for Forensic Computing professionals
Professional body requirements and codes of conduct
Cybercriminal Profiling & Victimology
International context of Cybercrime
Regulating cyberspace – ethical, legal and cultural issues
Role of an Expert Witness and Expert Testimony
National Security
Information Warfare

A mix of lectures, workshops and tutorials totalling 52 hours. Attendance for a minimum of one day (8 hours) per semester attendance at HTCU (dependant on workload and staff availability)

Practical tasks and workshops will be used to re-enforce and apply theory to encourage an analytical and problem-based approach. Student developed seminars will be used to enhance understanding where appropriate. Lectures will be used to provide students with theory and ideas based around professionalism.

Normally, some part of the student’s time on the module will be spent engaged with work and activities within Staffordshire Police Digital Forensics team. The exact nature of this work and time involved may vary from year to year. This experience would come out of the independent study hours. Work with Staffordshire Police will require appropriate clearance being obtained. If for whatever reason you do not obtain suitable clearance, then suitable professional activity and case study experience would be used to achieve the learning outcomes of the module.

There are no set texts for this module. Students are expected to identify and investigate their own research topics.

Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR 2018 ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148:2011
ISO 8000-8:2015 Data quality -- Part 8: Information and data quality: Concepts and measuring

Online access to the library

Pre-requisites Digital Forensics: Systems and Digital Forensics: Tools