Proof of Concept of the Online Neighbourhood Watch System

Abstract

Potential digital evidence captured by an onlooker at a crime scene when stored in a repository can be used during criminal investigations, or as admissible evidence in a court of law. However, to employ the captured and stored potential digital evidence (PDE) some challenges are required to be dealt with, such as, retaining the forensic soundness of the captured PDE, adequate measures to secure the PDE and measures to protect the privacy rights of the PDE uploader (citizens).

In previous work, the authors proposed a conceptual model termed online neighbourhood watch (ONW). The ONW model allows community members to use their mobile devices in capturing PDE, store the captured PDE to a repository to be used in neighbourhood crime investigation in South Africa. But, the focus of this paper is to present a proof of concept of the ONW model. The proof of concept outlines the functional and architectural requirements specifications of the ONW system and evaluates the performance of the underlying functional requirements using mathematical proofs in testing the forensic soundness of the captured and stored PDE. Furthermore, using the information security services mechanisms, the forensic soundness indicators (FSI) are generated. The FSI ensures originality, authenticity and admissibility of PDE from the ONW system.