Craigavon judge calls for greater resources for PSNI forensics as phone belonging to man accused of heroin possession 'could take more than a year' to be dealt with
It could be more than a year before a phone belonging to a man, accused of heroin possession, may be dealt with by PSNI forensics, a court hears
The case against Paulo Jorge Santos, aged 50, from Greenhill Park, Lurgan, who didn’t appear before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday, March 27, was for review.
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He is accused of possessing the Class A drug heroin with intent to supply, five charges of possessing heroin and one charge of domestic abuse between September 9 and 24 last year.
A prosecutor admitted the update is “not particularly satisfactory”, revealing the PSNI officer in charge of the case said the timeline in relation to the forensic science is “roughly over a year before they will get a report in this case”.
"That is due to their backlog and the priority of other devices,” he told the court.
Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer asked: “Do you mean over a year from now?” He was told yes.
"I know there are delays but do you have any idea how that is being addressed?” he asked.
Another prosecutor said this issue was raised at a different court adding: “Apparently it is the phone triage that is holding everything up.”
"They are trying to recruit new staff at the minute. It’s just that most cases now involve phones.”
DDJ Mateer said: “I can understand the mushrooming of the requirements to examine phones but as those requirements mushroom, no doubt the resources need to mushroom along with them.”
Defence solicitor Mr Philip Reid said he understood the problems but said his issue is that his client was first before the court in September last year.
He said although he is on bail “we are talking about another year from now”.
The solicitor said if they are talking about the possibility of another year he said “every consideration” should be taken in the case.
The DDJ pointed out his client has 19 bail breaches previously, adding: “I feel less sympathy for him when I read that.”
"We are talking a year-and-a-half before we see sight of the papers," said Mr Reid.
The DDJ said: “It's really unfortunate that there is a delay in the justice system here in NI and in England.”
He adjourned the case to May 22 “in the hope of something happening”.