Digital Citizen Evidence Is Transforming Policing. The Question Is: Are We Ready?

From smart doorbells and dashcams to mobile phones and connected home devices, millions of people are now generating digital evidence that can actively support investigations and improve public safety. According to The Police Foundation report, 50% UK adults regularly use at least one form of citizen-initiated surveillance technology, while nearly a third own their own and regularly use a smart doorbell.

The report, Policing and Digital Citizen Evidence: Unleashing the Potential for Public Participation, explores how policing can better utilise this growing source of evidential material while maintaining public trust, privacy, and effective governance. 

A Growing Opportunity for Policing 

The report's findings reveal that the public are willing participants when it comes to helping police investigations. More than 90% of those surveyed said they would be likely to share footage relating to a burglary inside their home, while many would also share evidence relating to suspicious activity or dangerous driving.

This presents a significant opportunity. Digital citizen evidence can help identify evidence that may otherwise be missed, strengthen safeguarding efforts, support crime prevention, and provide valuable intelligence for a wider range of investigations.

However, this report also highlights a key challenge facing policing today. The systems used to receive, manage, and act on citizen-submitted evidence, remain fragmented across the UK’s forces. This creates inconsistent processes, varying reporting routes, and limited feedback to those who submit evidence; which can effectively undermine public confidence and reduce the effectiveness of their contributions.

Trust Must Be Matched by Capability 

When members of the public choose to share footage, images, or information with police, they are placing trust in the system to use the evidence responsibly and effectively. The report argues that maintaining that trust will require a nationally coordinated approach, supported by clear standards, governance, and accessible systems.

As part of the research, Steve Rick, our CEO, emphasises the importance of recognising the human element behind every submission: 

Digital citizen evidence matters because it starts with people wanting to help. Every clip, image or message shared with police is an act of trust: someone believes what they have seen matters and that the system will respond.

Building a Framework for the Future 

The report calls for the establishment of a national framework for digital citizen evidence by September 2027, alongside clearer guidance, improved accessibility, stronger governance, and ongoing research into emerging technologies.

Importantly, the recommendations are not solely about technology. They focus on creating an approach that balances innovation with accountability, ensuring that evidence can be shared responsibly, privacy is protected, and investigators have the tools and processes needed to make effective use of the information provided.

Forensic Analytics is proud to support the research alongside Drivetech, SOLV Technology, and Dals. The report provides valuable insight into how digital citizen evidence is reshaping the relationship between policing and the public, while offering practical recommendations to help policing organisations prepare for the future.

The opportunity now is to ensure that policing has the capability, governance, and infrastructure required to turn that public willingness to participate into safer communities and more effective investigations.

To find out more about this report and its findings:

Policing and Digital Citizen Evidence: Unleashing the Potential for Public Participation

The Police Foundation, 2026