25 Years Experience of the Forensic Examination of Computers & Mobile Phones.
Criminal, Family and Commercial Work Across the UK.
Over 20 years Experience as Computer and Mobile Phone Forensic Expert Witnesses.
Legal Aid Accepted and ISO 9001 Accredited for 18 years.
Since 2008, Athena Forensic provides independent digital forensic expert witness services for criminal, family and civil proceedings throughout the UK.
We have completed thousands of investigations, have been accredited to ISO 9001 since 2009 and accept Legal Aid instructions.
Our experts examine computer, mobile phone and any other digital evidence, prepare CPR-compliant expert reports and provide expert witness testimony in court when required.
Our computer and mobile phone forensic expert witnesses have a vast amount of experience and are renowned within their industry for their comprehensive forensic investigation.
We provide credible and reliable services that can greatly influence the outcome of any cases where computer or mobile phone evidence may support or form the basis of legal proceedings.
Our reports and the evidence produced are supported by robust and experienced testimony and provide a free initial consultation that can greatly assist a case at any stage and our rates are accepted by the Legal Aid Agency.
Our computer and mobile phone experts have many years of experience and have been involved in a wide variety of criminal, civil and corporate proceedings and investigations involving digital evidence.
Examples of previous cases and the types of cases that our computer and mobile phone forensic team are regularly instructed are available on our previous investigation page.
We are registered with the Law Society and approved as digital forensic provider with several regulatory bodies in the UK including the Expert Witness Institute.
What Does a Digital Forensic Expert Witness Do?
- Independent Expert Opinion
- The Analysis of Digital Evidence
- Preparation of Expert Reports
- Joint Expert Instructions
- Court Attendance
- Criminal Proceedings
- Family Proceedings
- Civil Litigation
- Employment and Corporate Investigations
- CPR Compliant Reports
- Family Procedure Rules Compliant
The Role and Purpose of an Expert Witness
A forensic expert witness provides their independent opinion that is based upon the evidence considered and examined and can be employed jointly or by a single party within legal proceedings.
They should have knowledge or experience of a particular field that is beyond that of a normal individual and their duty is to provide a Court or Tribunal an impartial opinion on aspects within their expertise that may be disputed.
They have a main function to express their independent opinion based on the information and forensic evidence that is available and have an overriding duty to the court and not to the individual or lawyers who have instructed them, therefore the findings and opinion provided must be completely independent of those instructing them.
Expert witness services are required when it is necessary for an opinion to be provided in order to resolve a dispute within legal proceedings. In some circumstances that issue may be resolved by the use of an expert witness, however, they may also be required to attend court to provide testimony or to discuss their findings with another expert instructed by a different party within the proceedings.
Following the completion of a computer or mobile phone forensic report, the parties involved in the proceedings can ask questions and clarification may then be required that can then also form part of the evidence considered by the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
A digital forensic expert witness is a specialist who investigates, analyses and interprets digital evidence from computers, mobile phones, cloud services, email accounts and other electronic devices. They provide independent expert opinions and produce reports suitable for use in civil, criminal and family court proceedings.
A digital forensic expert witness may be required when digital evidence is central to a legal dispute or investigation. Common cases include fraud, employee misconduct, data theft, intellectual property disputes, cybercrime, family law matters, criminal investigations and disputes involving mobile phone or computer evidence.
Yes. A digital forensic expert witness can attend court to explain technical findings, answer questions from legal representatives and assist the court in understanding complex digital evidence. Expert witnesses must present impartial opinions and comply with their duties to the court.
Yes. We act on behalf of prosecution and defence teams, solicitors, barristers, businesses and local authorities. Our role is to provide independent, objective and unbiased forensic analysis regardless of which party instructs us.
Yes. We can be instructed as a Single Joint Expert (SJE) where both parties agree to appoint one independent expert. This approach can reduce costs and provide a mutually accepted expert opinion for court proceedings.
Yes. We regularly prepare expert witness reports for family court matters involving mobile phones, computers, social media accounts, messaging applications and other digital evidence. Reports are prepared in accordance with the relevant court rules and expert witness obligations.
We examine a wide range of digital evidence including computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, hard drives, cloud storage accounts, email systems, social media data, messaging applications, USB devices and network logs.
Yes. Our expert witness reports are prepared in accordance with the applicable Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), Criminal Procedure Rules (CrimPR) and Family Procedure Rules (FPR), depending on the nature of the case and jurisdiction.
Timescales depend on the complexity of the case, the volume of data and court deadlines. Urgent instructions can often be accommodated, and we will provide an estimated timeframe following an initial assessment of the evidence.
In many cases, deleted digital evidence can be recovered using specialist forensic techniques. However, successful recovery depends on factors such as the device type, storage technology, elapsed time and any actions taken after deletion.
A digital forensic expert witness should possess recognised digital forensic qualifications, extensive practical experience and a thorough understanding of court procedures. Relevant qualifications may include specialist certifications in computer forensics, mobile device forensics and digital investigations. An expert witness should also demonstrate experience in preparing court-compliant reports and giving evidence in court.
The cost of a digital forensic expert witness in the UK varies depending on the complexity of the case, the number of devices involved and the scope of the investigation. Fees may include an initial case assessment, forensic examination, report preparation and court attendance. A detailed quotation is typically provided following a review of the case requirements.
A digital forensic investigator is responsible for identifying, preserving, recovering and analysing digital evidence. A digital forensic expert witness performs these tasks but also provides independent expert opinions and prepares reports suitable for court proceedings. An expert witness may also be required to attend court and explain technical findings to judges, magistrates and legal representatives.
Yes. WhatsApp messages can be used as evidence in civil, criminal and family court proceedings. A forensic examination can help establish the authenticity of messages, identify associated media files and provide information regarding message dates, times and participants. The evidential value will depend on the circumstances of the case and the quality of the available data.
Deleted text messages can sometimes be recovered using specialist digital forensic techniques. The likelihood of recovery depends on factors such as the device model, operating system, storage technology and how the device has been used since the messages were deleted. Not all deleted messages can be recovered, but forensic analysis may identify recoverable data that is not accessible through normal device use.
Mobile phone evidence is preserved using established digital forensic procedures designed to maintain the integrity of the data. This typically includes creating a forensic copy of the device, documenting the chain of custody, recording all examination processes and securely storing evidence. These procedures help ensure that the evidence remains reliable and suitable for use in court proceedings.
About Athena Forensics
For information on our digital services or if you require any advice or assistance please contact a member of our team on 0330 123 4448 or via email on enquiries@athenaforensics.co.uk, further details are available on our contact us page.
Our client’s confidentiality is of the utmost importance. All correspondence is treated with discretion, from initial contact to conclusion of the matter.
We are fully aware of the significance and importance of the information that they encounter and we have been accredited to ISO 9001 for 13 years. We are all security cleared and offer non-disclosure agreements if required.
Our premises along with our security procedures have been inspected and approved by law enforcement agencies and we do not disclose personal information to other companies or suppliers.
Testimonial
I would thank you for all the work undertaken on our behalf and the part of the Defendant over the last few months over which the case has proceeded which was greatly appreciated by ourselves. Should I have any cases which involve computer cases in the future I will not hesitate to seek to instruct yourself and Athena Forensics on any such occasions.Lancashire Based Solicitor.
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