Email - sam@raincock.co.uk     Call -  01434 600635

Location Forensics

The question of 'where?' a person, device or vehicle has been located is now often key evidence in a range of criminal cases.  As well as detailed analysis of use of devices/phones and cell site analysis, Sam's other main specialism is examining devices for the storage of location based evidence. 

Modern mobile smart phones (such as Androids and iPhone) may store a range of potential location based information including WiFi point use, location estimations made by the phone, mapping application usage, health application logs (such as steps and floors climbed) and also even conduct their own WiFi and cellular scanning.  On devices the 'where?' evidence is rarely IP address assignment (which is sometimes wrongly assumed to be the only evidence to address this question since it may have been used to initially 'find' the devices).   In practice, although a location based assessment will examine for this evidence, this information is generally not stored on a device except in limited situations meaning in most cases other types of evidence need to be considered. 

Location evidence may also be present in general use and device data stored, for example, if there photographs from a particular area, users conversing about visits to particular locations or  emails of bookings at X hotel etc.

Where technical location evidence is present, this may exceed the ability of cell site analysis which can also be conducted for devices using SIM cards.   Most importantly the accuracy of this evidence is often crucial to consider since although the device may have a GPS receiver, the location evidence on a device such as a modern smart phone may be approximating the location based on the mobile and WiFi networks in the area or otherwise.   It may also be important to consider the locations of use of the phone, in combination with other device evidence such as the steps/health information and other interactions with the device even to the extent of if the phone is picked up, its screen lit up etc. which all may be logged.

Sam can evaluate the 'best' sources of location evidence involving computers and mobile devices, cell site analysis and vehicles including determining the accuracy of the evidence and combining the evidential sources.  SRC can also combine/assess this evidence to determine its accuracy and to provide chronologies of locations and general phone use. 

Due to SRC specialising in complex location forensics cases (involving opinion based evidence), typically instructions are 40+ hours of work, although where Sam is available, she may be able to undertake a smaller instruction (with a minimum time of 25 hours).

Sam has been taking instructions in cases involving location evidence for over 14 years including working on cases where GPS tracker, electronic tags and Sat Nav evidence was starting to be used in criminal legal cases.   Throughout this time, she has continued to work on cases involving location evidence throughout her career expanding into the area of telematics (vehicle data) and also location evidence stored on smart phone handsets, particularly iPhones.
Lady driving car

Telematics, Trackers and GPS Evidence 


Trackers may be fitted to vehicles as well as such data being gathered by applications provided by car manufacturers and even stored by the vehicle itself (telematics). In all cases, this location information may used as evidence in cases in terms of the location of the vehicle and also interactions with it including things such as ignition events and even when doors were opened/closed etc. 


As of April 2018, all new model type cars should be fitted with an eCall system allowing GPS location information to be sent to the emergency services via a tracker and SIM card unit fitted to the car. Hence all new model cars theoretically after this date will contain a type of tracker and SIM card. The SIM cards in the absence of other information, may also be used to perform cell site analysis.  


Users may also use Satellite navigation (Sat Nav) units which can also be examined in order to establish locations/journeys of use and the accuracy of this information assessed.


Instructing SRC in a location forensics case


Usually location forensics is a criminal investigation and SRC can combine the evidence of vehicle use, location based information on devices with cell site analysis to establish potential use of devices in/around vehicles on its own or as part of attribution evidence assessments.  Sam can also determine the 'best source' of location evidence available in your case.


When instructing or contacting SRC it is useful if you can initially supply the following:


  1. Trial date (including schedule time) and any Court or other deadlines.
  2. Statements and reports in relation to the technical evidence and seized digital devices.
  3. Any technical exhibits supplied so far including tracker data and/or call data.
  4. MG5 or case bundle.
  5. Details of defence/defence statement and/or instructions of what may be required.


In the event have a large telecoms case, SRC can provide you with initial reviews to assist with establishing what may be required and can provide assistance in all telecoms and digital evidence areas.


Sam is primarily a criminal practitioner.   She does take on a limited number of other matters particularly if they involve the investigation of a death or involve children.  Please provide details of your case when initially contacting.   Note that for any case it will be essential that you ascertain written permission for access to the devices and data in full (for handsets/computers this will be everything stored including possibly deleted data) since without this SRC will be unable to progress the case.   You will also need to establish what the handset are (make and models).  You should also provide details of any case deadlines or otherwise.

For details of previous cases in which SRC have been instructed involving location based forensics see Sam's previous case list.


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