Robotic Process Automation Placement via the CCS Automation Marketplace DPS

The Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Automate project comprises a number of process improvement, technology testing and development projects which are intended to standardise and improve the efficiency of the Digital Forensic (DF) examination process for the investigation of CSE offences.

The integrated CSE Automate Service will ultimately be delivered by the Forensic Capability Network (FCN), providing a national service, incorporating aspects of technical, quality, workforce and end user support and development, enabling the realisation of significant efficiency and productivity benefits within Digital Forensic Unit's (DFU's) undertaking CSE examinations.

As a first step, this project seeks to automate elements of the workflows used in this type of DF examination by law enforcement, which currently accounts for around 40% of cases in DF units, and 60% of the resource use. It is therefore a strong candidate for process improvement and efficiency savings.

Transforming Forensics (TF) have undertaken a discovery process with all England and Wales Police forces and conducted a market assessment of technologies which has led to the selection of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) as one of three technologies which may be able to contribute significantly to the TF objectives. The success of each of the technologies will be compared in order to inform the optimum way forward for forces. The benefits, lessons learnt, and challenges of this trial will be available for all FCN members to consider.