Dundee researchers develop new AI tool to help make criminal investigations fairer across Europe
Researchers at the University of Dundee have developed a new AI-assisted tool designed to help make criminal investigations fairer and more reliable across Europe.
The new technology, created through the Dundee-led Clarus Project, aims to reduce the risk of bias and misunderstandings when digital evidence is used in criminal investigations.
From cybercrime and fraud to murder investigations and organised crime, digital evidence now plays an important role in solving some of the most serious offences.
But the way that evidence is described and shared between investigators can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, potentially influencing how it is interpreted.
Now, Dundee researchers are helping to tackle that problem.
How does the new technology work?
The new Clarity Checker Tool uses AI-assisted software to examine written reports and identify language that could unintentionally introduce bias or confusion.
For example, the software can highlight wording that may influence how someone interprets digital evidence, helping forensic experts communicate their findings more clearly and neutrally.
The tool has been developed through the Horizon Europe-funded Clarus Project, bringing together research from Scotland, Finland, Greece, Czechia and Portugal.
Researchers have also created a new online dictionary of digital forensic terminology, helping police forces, forensic laboratories and legal professionals across Europe use consistent language when discussing evidence.
Together, the two resources aim to improve communication between criminal justice organisations, particularly when investigations involve several countries.
Dundee research helping shape European justice
The project has been led by experts from several departments at the University of Dundee, including its Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science.
Professor Megan O’Neill, Director of Research for the Clarus Project at Dundee, said: “Technology is moving at an incredible rate and it is crucial that the criminal justice system keeps pace with this.”
She explained that the new resources have been developed to help ensure digital evidence is communicated clearly and interpreted consistently, regardless of where it originates or who is using it.
The team hopes the tools will help shape how digital forensic evidence is described and shared across European police forces, forensic laboratories and judicial systems for years to come.
And it’s another example of research being led from Dundee with the potential to make a difference far beyond Scotland, this time helping improve the fairness and reliability of criminal investigations across Europe.
