Operation Atlas: Supporting the fight against VAWG at scale

The situation

Stalking and harassment are often precursors to more serious violence against women, with 90% of women killed by men having experienced stalking behaviour from their attacker prior to their deaths. Despite this, in the UK only 6% of stalking cases result in charges, largely due to limited investigative capacity, knowledge, and tools. 

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust reports that 100% of cases they handle involve a digital element, and the domestic abuse charity Refuge has seen a 366% rise in tech-facilitated abuse since 2019. Addressing this growing problem requires more effective digital-first investigative methods. 

The process

The Metropolitan Police’s Operation Atlas has adopted a digital-first approach to investigating stalking and harassment cases. By leveraging Forensic Analytics’ CSAS software, the team can quickly access and analyse digital evidence from phones, cameras, and Wi-Fi routers—creating in effect “digital witnesses.” This data helps corroborate victims’ accounts or refute offenders’ alibis. 

Key steps include: 

• Triaging cases on day one by identifying digital opportunities. 

• Using CSAS to analyse digital sources for crucial evidence, such as phone calls or text messages. 

• Accelerating investigations by accessing real-time data.

The result

Operation Atlas has transformed how stalking and harassment cases are handled, driving significant improvements in charge rates and investigation efficiency. 

• Charge rates increased from 6% to 66%. 

• A 33% reduction in investigation time. 

• Cases that previously took 15 weeks to resolve are now often charged within 24 hours. 

• 96% of charged cases result in convictions, with 88% of those pleading guilty. 

Recognised as best practice by the College of Policing and praised by the London Victims' Commissioner, Operation Atlas is being considered as a model for national adoption to help address the urgent crisis of violence against women and girls (VAWG).