Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST)

Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST)

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cast

The UK Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) is a team of 200 scientists and engineers at the heart of the UK Government providing expert advice, innovation and frontline support from a science and technology perspective. There are staff based across four UK sites which include specialist technical facilities as well as a base in the Home Office Headquarters in London.
CAST is the primary science and technology interface between Home Office ministers, policy makers, operational delivery partners and the suppliers of science and technological solutions. Understanding the policy and its link to the operational context allows CAST to operate where others cannot for reasons of impartiality, national security or market failure.
CAST supports the full range of Home Office interests in policing, tackling crime, counter terrorism, border security and controlling immigration. The extensive in house skills and expertise, coupled with access to industry, academic and international networks ensures that the most appropriate solutions are brought to address operational challenges. CAST has direct links with UK operational law enforcement, and develops and evaluates tools on their behalf.
The expertise and activities are focussed in a wide range of specific domain specialism areas. Relevant areas to this proposal include:

Digital Investigations – focused on digital forensics and open source intelligence. Development of in-house tools and
evaluation of commercial products to support UK law enforcement scenarios
Imaging – video surveillance systems, CCTV and video analytics
Forensic Science
Biometrics