Cyber kiosks

Cyber kiosks are desktop computers containing specialist software. This enables trained police officers to view information stored on a mobile phone or tablet. This may be relevant to a police investigation or incident.

The early identification of evidence on a device can significantly enhance our ability to protect vulnerable people. It provides investigating officers with lines of enquiry they can follow, quicker than current processes allow.

There will be 41 cyber kiosks located within existing Police Scotland buildings throughout Scotland. They will be operated by specially trained police officers or cybercrime staff who have completed and passed cyber kiosk training.

Cyber kiosks allow for a targeted search to be conducted on a device using specific criteria such as:

Date
Time
Telephone number

They can also allow for a search within particular areas of a device like text messages or photographs.

We will only examine a digital device where there is a legal basis and where it is necessary, justified and proportionate to the incident or crime under investigation.

If evidence is identified on a device, lines of enquiry can be progressed much earlier. The device will be submitted to a Digital Forensics Hub for further examination and preparation for court.

It is our aim to return devices, which may not be relevant to an enquiry, to the owner much more quickly.

The examination process allows the trained operator to view information stored within the device, however all information is securely deleted from the cyber kiosk at the end of each examination.

For more information on cyber kiosks and Police Scotland’s intended use, please view the documents on this page:

Cyber kiosks and examination

Legal basis

Impact assessments

Data publication

2024

2023

2022

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