✅ If You Are the Victim or a Complainant:
- In both the UK and Spain, if you are the person who reported a crime, and the content on the phone is relevant to your safety, the case, or your testimony, the police may share certain findings with you—but only if it is appropriate and safe to do so.
- You will not be handed the entire forensic report, because:
- It contains private, sensitive, or possibly illegal data.
- It may involve other individuals whose privacy is protected.
- Full reports are usually restricted to police, digital forensic teams, legal counsel, and sometimes the judge.
- However, you may be told:
- If the phone contains evidence that supports your claim.
- Whether charges are being brought based on the findings.
- What the police believe happened, in summary.
- If anything found puts you or someone else at continued risk.
🛡️ Important: If you’re involved in a domestic abuse, harassment, or coercive control case, you may have a right to know enough to protect yourself, but still not access full details unless required for your testimony or court process.
🚫 If You Are Not Directly Involved in the Case:
If you’re not the complainant, victim, or legal party involved (e.g. you’re a concerned friend, relative, or ex-partner), you will not be given any access to the forensic findings. This protects:
- The investigation’s integrity.
- The rights of the accused (innocent until proven guilty).
- The privacy of anyone else who may be mentioned in data.
📄 Who Gets the Forensic Report?
In most legal systems:
- Police and investigators have full access.
- Prosecutors or defence lawyers receive relevant portions.
- Judges may see it in full or summary.
- You, as a witness or victim, may be shown relevant excerpts, but only what is legally necessary for your involvement.
🧠 Emotional Side of This:
If you’re waiting for answers, especially in a case involving suspected abuse, images, manipulation, or secrecy—it can be incredibly frustrating to feel in the dark. It’s okay to feel powerless, anxious, or angry about not knowing more. But it’s worth remembering:
- This boundary of information is designed to protect the legal process and help evidence stand up in court.
- You can always ask your officer-in-charge or legal representative to keep you informed about:
- Whether your claims have been validated by the digital evidence.
- What the next steps will be.
- Whether your safety or others’ is at risk.
- If you will need to give a statement or appear in court.
⚖️ In Summary
| Role | Can You See the Report? | What You Might Be Told |
|---|---|---|
| Victim / Complainant | Not the full report | Yes, relevant findings and outcome |
| Police / Investigators | Yes | Full access |
| Defence / Prosecution | Yes | Through disclosure process |
| Judge | Yes (if needed) | Decides what’s admissible |
| General public / Uninvolved | No | Protected by law |
