Smartphones are now the most crucial piece of evidence in crime probes

"Smartphones are now the most crucial source of digital evidence in solving nearly every criminal investigation, a report has found. Detectives rely on the wealth of information held on the devices in 97 per cent of cases - double the number in which data from laptops was needed. With the devices containing swathes of detailed messages, photos and location data, police chiefs told the Mail the devices had become 'a crime scene in your pocket'."

"The 2026 Industry Trends report by Cellebrite, which provides global law enforcement agencies with digital forensics tools, surveyed 1,200 investigators. It found smartphones were by far the most cited source of digital evidence in solving cases, up from 73 per cent of cases the previous year. Second was laptops at 51 per cent, followed by CCTV at 41 per cent. Cryptocurrency was found to be the fastest growing source of evidence, used in over a fifth - 22 per cent - of cases, largely due to the continued rise in online scams."

Smartphones are cited as digital evidence in 97% of criminal investigations, far exceeding laptops and serving as a primary source for establishing timelines and links. Mobile devices contain messages, photos and location data that provide detailed insights into suspects' communications and movements. A 2026 Industry Trends survey of 1,200 investigators recorded smartphones cited in 97% of cases, laptops in 51% and CCTV in 41%. Cryptocurrency emerged as the fastest growing evidence source, appearing in 22% of cases amid rising online scams. Mobile evidence contributed to convictions in high-profile cases, including the killers of Brianna Ghey and Huw Edwards.

Read at Mail Online