The problem encountered by the researcher was that the South African Police Service Cyber-Crimes Unit is experiencing problems in seizing computer evidence. The following problems were identified by the researcher in practice: evidence is destroyed or lost because of mishandling by investigators; computer evidence is often not obtained or recognised, due to a lack of knowledge and skills on the part of investigators to properly seize computer evidence; difficulties to establish authenticity and initiate a chain of custody for the seized evidence; current training that is offered is unable to cover critical steps in the performance of seizing computer evidence; computer seizure as a technique requires specialised knowledge and continuous training, because the information technology industry is an ever-changing area. An empirical research design, followed by a qualitative research approach, allowed the researcher to also obtain information from practice. A thorough literature study, complemented by interviews, was done to collect the required data for the research. Members of the South African Police Cyber-crime Unit and prosecutors dealing with cyber-crime cases were interviewed to obtain their input into, and experiences on, the topic. The aim of the study was to explore the role of computers in the forensic investigation process, and to determine how computers can be seized without compromising evidence. The study therefore also aimed at creating an understanding and awareness about the slippery nature of computer evidence, and how it can find its way to the court of law without being compromised. The research has revealed that computer crime is different from common law or traditional crimes. It is complicated, and therefore only skilled and qualified forensic experts should be used to seize computer evidence, to ensure that the evidence is not compromised. Training of cyber-crime technicians has to be priority, in order to be successful in seizing computers. / Department of Criminology / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Submitted by Pedro Luiz Lemos Cunha (papitolc@hotmail.com) on 2012-09-21T03:10:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Pedro Cunha - final.pdf: 2139866 bytes, checksum: 8b06b702794a672da9aa97db9a0c1c09 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by ÁUREA CORRÊA DA FONSECA CORRÊA DA FONSECA (aurea.fonseca@fgv.br) on 2012-09-24T15:54:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Pedro Cunha - final.pdf: 2139866 bytes, checksum: 8b06b702794a672da9aa97db9a0c1c09 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2012-09-27T12:10:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Pedro Cunha - final.pdf: 2139866 bytes, checksum: 8b06b702794a672da9aa97db9a0c1c09 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-09-27T12:11:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Pedro Cunha - final.pdf: 2139866 bytes, checksum: 8b06b702794a672da9aa97db9a0c1c09 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-13 / O presente trabalho, de caráter exploratório e descritivo, teve por objetivo identificar requisitos, obstáculos e repercussões decorrentes da implantação de Cadeia de Custódia de Vestígios (CC) para a gestão da Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal (PCDF), que nessa unidade federativa acolhe e gerencia os institutos responsáveis pela atividade pericial oficial de natureza criminal. Primeiramente, foi realizada análise de referencial teórico visando estabelecer categorias de conteúdo. Posteriormente foram analisados normas e documentos da Secretaria Nacional de Segurança Pública e da PCDF, bem como realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com Dirigentes da PCDF. A técnica de tratamento de dados adotada foi a de análise de conteúdo, mediante abordagem qualitativa dos elementos de mensagem. Foram erigidas quatro categorias análise de conteúdo: elementos de identificação, legitimação e pertinência; elementos de supervisão, controle e responsabilização; elementos de gerência; e elementos operacionais, inerentes ao fomento das atividades. O resultado das análises dos documentos e das entrevistas ratificaram as categorias análise de conteúdo propostas, sendo observada maior relevância nos seguintes elementos: os procedimentos de CC são de grande relevância para a missão da Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal, proporcionam maior transparência e accountability formal e informal dos serviços prestados, e propiciam a valorização da instituição policial ante aos seus próprios servidores, estimulando-os. A Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal demonstrou precariedades materiais e procedimentais para implementação de CC, fazendo-se necessárias a aquisição e/ou edificação de instalações apropriadas, a aquisição de sistemas informatizados e de equipamentos. A aquisição de competência faz-se necessária para que os órgãos policiais possam prover o desenvolvimento e a implementação de novos procedimentos de custódias. Os procedimentos de CC demandarão mudanças de procedimentos de todos os servidores policiais que tomarem contato com vestígios materiais de crime. O convencimento do nível estratégico, o ritmo da implantação e a resistência dos policiais em adotarem novos procedimentos são os principais obstáculos para a implantação da Cadeia de Custódia de Vestígios. / The present job is an exploratory and descriptive one, aimed to identify requirements, obstacles and impacts resulting from the implementation of the Chain of Custody of Traces (CC) for the management of the Federal District Civil Police (PCDF), which receives and manages the criminal forensic activity. First, an analysis was performed to establish the theoretical content categories. Later on, were analyzed standards and documents from the National Secretariat of Public Security and PCDF, as well as realized semi-structured interviews with leaders of PCDF. The data processing technique adopted was the analysis of contents by a qualitative focus on the elements. Four categories of content analysis were raised: identification elements, legitimacy and relevance; supervision, control and accountability elements; management elements; and operational elements, inherent to the promotion activities. The results of documents and interviews analysis ratified the content analysis categories proposed, observing more relevance on the following: Chain of Custody procedures are of great relevance to the activities of the Federal District Civil Police, provides a great transparence and formal and informal accountability for services rendered, provides appreciation of the police among their own servers motivating them. The Federal District Civil Police showed procedural and material precariousness to implement the Chain of Custody, making necessary to acquire and/or build appropriate facilities, purchase computer systems and equipment. It is necessary to acquire competence for law enforcement agencies to promote the development and implementation of new procedures for custody. The procedures of the CC require changes of procedures to all police servers in contact with material traces of crime. The conviction of the strategic levels, the timing of implementation and the resistance of police enforcement in adopting new procedures are the main obstacles to implement the Chain of Custody of Traces.

DNA is identified as a powerful tool in the solving of rape cases, but it is often destroyed either by members of the public or the police officials who attend to the scene. The aim of the study was to evaluate the management of DNA evidence in rape cases in the Bishop Lavis Policing Area. To address the research topic under investigation, research questions, a legal framework and policies were used. The outcome of the study indicated poor performance in securing the crime scene and ensuring that physical evidence is preserved and not tampered with. On this basis, it was recommended that developmental workshops and intensive training on the management of DNA evidence be conducted to all members of the South African Police Service attend to rape crime scenes. This should be done to equip them with knowledge and an understanding of the management of DNA evidence. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)