IDIA 2020: Internet Intelligence Award!

Internet intelligence and open source investigation techniques are well-embedded within most investigative teams now. However, the nominations identified some innovative work being done that shows there is still more that can be learnt to help investigators succeed. Here’s the shortlist!

Merseyside Police (Digital Media Intelligence Unit)

In 2019 the DMI Unit safeguarded multiple vulnerable men who were being criminally exploited through county lines scenarios. Social media was used to identify suspects, including identifying the individual with the greatest influence and links to other group members. The use of false personas to friend private accounts linked to potential targets and snapchat as an investigative standard were utilised and assisted the investigations in evidencing criminality.

Tarian, ROCU

This analyst leads created an analytical profile into knife crime within the dark web, identifying banned weapons, marketplaces, vendors, and buyers within the UK using a combined approach of traditional policing and new, innovative techniques. By instigating a manual review of active marketplaces and then using non traditional techniques to produce intelligence packages, this project has provided a ground-breaking understanding of exposure to knife crime and resulted in a ministerial briefing and intelligence packages disseminated out across UK policing.

Merseyside Police

A male wanted since 2016 for possession of a controlled drug with intention to supply was located through in-depth open-source intelligence. He was believed to be residing abroad with a girlfriend. Social media accounts were located for the target’s parents through a known family tree and using his profile picture with his girlfriend, her account was identified and recently post led to a new location for the female to be residing. The officer also found a screenshot of a video game with the suspect’s online nickname and a picture of the house on her account, leading to opening new lines of enquiry. The male’s family members were contacted and he handed himself into police the following day.

Contact Awards@bluelightsdigital.com to see if you are eligible to join us on the 10th March to find out who wins!