Long ago when forensics started out, each police department or private investigation company would do things in their own way. Most didn't have a computer forensics expert and used their IT department or nearest computer geek instead, who would have had varying degrees of expertise. This led to evidence being mistreated and people called expert witnesses when really they weren't. To make sure things were done properly, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) set up guidelines called Good Practice Guide for Computer-Based Electronic Evidence on how to deal with digital artefacts (computers, mobile phones etc) so that they are properly looked after and admissible in court.

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