Cell site analysis is often presented as definitive location evidence—but the reality is far more nuanced. Mobile phone evidence now sits at the heart of most serious crime investigations. When properly understood, call data and cell site analysis can be the thread that ties an entire case together—supporting prosecution narratives or reinforcing defence alibis. Yet these forms of evidence are often misunderstood, misinterpreted, or accepted without challenge.
This session provides a clear, accessible, and authoritative guide to the real value—and real limitations—of mobile phone evidence in criminal proceedings.
This section demystifies:
- How cell site analysis works
- How to interpret analysis maps and coverage plots
- How this evidence should be presented and scrutinised in court
- The role of Radio Frequency Propagation Surveys (RFPS):
- Why they are conducted
- How to understand survey results
- How RF data should be used—and questioned—during proceedings
Call Data Records: What They Really Show
UK mobile networks supply a range of call data records to law enforcement, each with its own evidential strengths and weaknesses.
This session explains:
- The different types of call data available from each network
- What each dataset can (and cannot) demonstrate
- Common misconceptions and pitfalls
- How to identify opportunities to challenge or support call data evidence
Why Cell Site Evidence Matters in Your Case
This section explores how mobile phone evidence can influence key issues, including:
- Establishing the general location of a device over time
- Identifying potential co-location of suspects’ phones
- Placing a device within an area that includes a crime scene or other significant locations
- Mapping movement patterns to support or challenge ANPR, CCTV, witness accounts, or alibi evidence
- Attributing a device to an individual through usage patterns, frequent cell analysis, and mirrored movement
Technical Briefing: What You Will Learn
By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped to interpret, question, and deploy mobile phone evidence more effectively. Topics include:
- Types of Call Data: What each dataset reveals and the evidential limitations
- RF Surveying: How surveys are conducted, what they prove, and how to challenge them
- Co‑Location Analysis: Understanding when co-location is meaningful—and when it is not
- Separation Analysis: Identifying evidence that contradicts alleged association or attribution
- Mirrored Movement: Recognising this powerful form of analysis and its limitations
This session will be delivered by Paul Hope. Paul is a fully trained cell site analysis and RFPS expert who has provided evidence on numerous occasions for both the prosecution and defence in high profile cases throughout the UK.
