1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework, policies, and legislation that govern the acquisition, processing, analysis, and presentation of digital evidence within criminal investigations in England and Wales.

2. Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a theoretical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline for law, policy, practice, and legislation for digital evidence within criminal investigations.

3. Communicate your findings effectively, both in writing and orally, to diverse audiences. You should be able to articulate the significance of your research in the context of law, policy, practice, and legislation related to digital evidence within criminal investigations.

Coursework (Essay) - 3000 words – Learning Outcomes 1 and 2

You will produce an essay on one of the core topics featured in the module, this essay will explore your understanding of the topic within the English and Welsh legal system.

Project Output (Poster and Presentation) - Learning Outcome 3

This will be on the same topic as set out in your essay. You will need to generate an academic poster and an individual presentation of up to 30 minutes, within this assessment you will showcase your knowledge and understanding of the topics in the module and your ability to research within the field of Digital Forensic Investigation. Additional formative feedback will be arranged by use of Academic Support Time and additional online tutorials for academic poster design will be provided.

Content taught through mixture of Blackboard VLE activities, lectures and practical classes. This module will develop your understanding of key legislation in the field of acquisition, seizure, processing and presentation of digital evidence.

The principles of human rights and digital evidential disclosure will underpin the taught material. Topics taught will include: virtual courts and EPE, internet and net neutrality, legal approaches to regulating the information age, principles of criminal litigation and disclosure of evidence (digital), contempt of court in a digital era, the legal issues of online state surveillance, choice of law in electronic contract, legal issues in social networking/defamation online, rights for disclosure of digital evidence, and contemporary issues in relation to digital evidence.

Our team will guide you through a combination of engaging Blackboard VLE activities, informative lectures, and hands-on practical classes to help you develop a deep understanding of key legislation related to acquisition, seizure, processing, and presentation of digital evidence.

With a focus on upholding human rights and ensuring proper digital evidential disclosure, our module covers a wide range of important topics. You'll explore virtual courts and EPE, internet and net neutrality, legal approaches to regulating the information age, principles of criminal litigation and disclosure of evidence (digital), contempt of court in a digital era, the legal issues of online state surveillance, choice of law in electronic contracts, legal issues in social networking/defamation online, rights for disclosure of digital evidence, and contemporary issues in relation to digital evidence.

This is an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge and enhance your career prospects in the rapidly growing field of digital forensic investigation.

30 hours made up of tutor led lecture/tutorial/problem solving and practical classes will be used to deliver the core material. 170 hours of independent study will be used to research background information, complete further reading from tutorials related to the delivery of the core material, prepare pre-requisite work for practical’s, work on assignments.

Blackstone’s Police Manuals

Great Britain (1996) Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act. [online] Available from: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/25/contents

Murray, A. 2019. Information Technology Law. 4th Edition: Oxford University Press

Police National Legal Database. (2018) Available from: https://www.pnld.co.uk/

Staniforth, A., Akhgar, B. and Bosco, F. (2017) Blackstone’s Handbook of Cyber Crime Investigation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

University Law Trove

Additional material to be guided by students’ topics and tutor guidance.

A suitable desktop or laptop computer capable of accessing the internet, module handbook, standard lecture room facilities, appropriate IT lab facilities, and access to library and to computers with:-

Adobe Software for |Poster design, and Word Processing for essay writing.