TAE Accreditations
- Expert Witness
Mr Matthew Blackband
Digital Forensic Investigator
Qualifications
- Certified Security Testing Professional CTSP (2007)
- Certified Security Testing Associate CSTA (2007)
- Accessdata Certified Examiner ACE (2010)
Expert Witness Snapshot
Matt is a senior digital investigation and law enforcement specialist with over 37 years of inquisitional experience, including 21 years’ service as a New Scotland Yard detective. He has led dedicated digital forensic investigations at both national and international level and is also an accredited Financial Investigator.He was a founding member of the multi-agency National Hi-Tech Crime Unit, tackling international organised crime, and played a key role in the development of the SO13 Anti-Terrorist Branch and SO15 Counter Terrorism Command hi-tech units.
Since 2001, Matt has worked as an independent digital forensic consultant. His core expertise includes:
- Digital forensic retrieval, investigation and case management across complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations
- Email, social media and online investigations, including complex data correlation and attribution
- Cryptocurrency and blockchain investigations, including tracing, analysis and evidential reporting
- Digital forensic laboratory design, development and implementation for law enforcement and private sector clients
- Training, mentoring and capacity building for law enforcement and govenment agencies
Matt has extensive domestic and international experience in the design and delivery of digital forensics training for law enforcement and commercial organisations. His training portfolio includes:
- Forensic laboratory implementation and operational best practice
- Covert data acquisition methodologies
- Advanced computer forensics
- Military data exploitation in hostile and austere environments
He has provided tuition and mentoring in digital investigation techniques in Pakistan, Morocco, Libya, Nigeria, South Africa, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar, and has advised on the design and development of digital forensic laboratories for law enforcement agencies across the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
Matt has given expert witness evidence in the Royal Courts of Justice and the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) in relation to digital evidence, and has been appointed as a Single Joint Expert in a case concerning the investigation of cryptocurrency holdings.
He is highly proficient in a wide range of industry-standard forensic tools and platforms and holds multiple professional memberships and accreditations.