Instruct an expert

Start with the forensic question

Tell us the nature of the matter, the question you need answered and any relevant deadlines. Initial contact allows us to discuss whether the work falls within our expertise and what an appropriate scope might involve.

For a potential instruction, include your organisation and your role in the matter. A short description of the available digital material or existing reports is helpful.

Please do not submit evidence, sensitive personal information or confidential case documents through this form. Substantive material should only be transferred after conflict checking and engagement arrangements. We then arrange a matter-specific secure transfer link.

An enquiry does not itself establish an engagement. Scope, availability and arrangements for the work need to be agreed.

Research and other enquiries

Use the enquiry type to identify research, collaboration, media or general enquiries. These reach the same laboratory contact.

Who can instruct us

Forensic briefs are accepted from legal practitioners, investigators and professional organisations. We do not accept direct litigation briefs from self-represented parties; please arrange instructions through your legal representative. Research enquiries and assistance obtaining your own social-media data can be discussed separately.

The instruction pathway

1. Enquiry. Give your professional role, the broad question and the deadline.
2. Conflict check. The laboratory arranges the information needed to check conflicts directly.
3. Scope and question. Agree the material, questions and proposed deliverable.
4. Engagement. Confirm availability, fees and engagement arrangements.
5. Secure evidence transfer. Use the matter-specific transfer arrangements provided after those checks.
6. Examination. Evaluate the records and technically reasonable alternative explanations.
7. Opinion or report. Receive findings with their basis, assumptions and limitations.
8. Further assistance. Conference, supplementary work or oral evidence may follow where required.

Before you enquire

The instruction guide, free checklists and Fees & engagement explain what to prepare. For research collaboration, describe the question, proposed contribution and desired outcome. For SPOT evaluation, identify the imagery population and evaluation need without sending restricted material.