Elliot Sutton
Leeds,Yorkshire
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven professional with extensive expertise in risk management, project management, and team leadership. Demonstrates a proven ability to implement processes, manage budgets, and deliver at pace while maintaining integrity and fostering an empowering work environment. Skilled in conflict resolution, coaching, mentoring, and staff development, with a strong focus on driving team performance through effective communication and active listening. Adept at utilising market-leading forensic tools and Microsoft Office to support critical decision-making and problem-solving. Highly organised, adaptable, and innovative with a commitment to achieving progressive outcomes in challenging environments.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work history
Senior Digital Forensic Investigator
West Yorkshire Police
Wakefield/Leeds, West Yorkshire
2020.10 - Current
- Acted as the project lead for the expansion of the West Yorkshire Police Digital Forensics Unit into the Leeds District.
- Digital Forensics lead for the implementation of Operation Soteria, building on national products to create resources now identified as best practice nationally.
- Subject matter expert on the threat, risk and harm posed by the growth of online networks with nihilistic world views leading to requests to support multiple forces nationally in developing a response to this emerging threat and involvement in national working groups.
- Was at the forefront of driving PESTLE analysis within the department to identify emerging trends and potential risks to delivery.
- Cultivated relationships through stakeholder engagement with divisional leads across the force to establish best practice and provide value for money.
- Trained new technicians and investigators on forensic science techniques.
- Reviewed forensic examiners' reports for technical merit.
- Carried out laboratory examinations and analysis submitted by law enforcement to support prosecutions.
- Served as an expert witness in a court of law by explaining forensic data recovery techniques and analysis procedures.
- Oversaw a team of 20 Digital Forensic Examiners and acted as the first point of contact for digital forensic queries and quality assurance.
- Managed a high volume of digital forensic examination requests across all crime types prioritising and allocating work considering a number of dynamic factors such as risk, public interest, target dates and victim engagement.
- Established investigative practices to streamline existing practice to increase efficiency and enhance organisational performance.
- Completed the Core Skills in Data Recovery course provided by the College of Policing.
- Completed training in Advanced Recovery and Analysis of data using market leading forensic tools including Magnet Axiom, X-Ways Forensics, Cellebrite, Graykey, Griffeye, Oxygen Forensics, Digital Collector, TX-1, VFC, EnCase and XRY.
Functional Head
Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service
2010.02 - 2020.04
- Managed a team of 50 employees, using a combination of coaching, mentoring and training to develop staff and encourage professional growth, competent with all relevant HR processes and conflict resolution.
- Lead on the delivery and contract management of target driven accredited offending behaviour programmes resulting in being the only site to achieve target for three consecutive years.
- Used Microsoft Office tools to modernise operations and revamp procedures to improve operations and improve information sharing.
- Managed contracts for service providers and acted as the gold standard for service delivery across learning and skills provision and industry within my establishment.
- Devised and implemented the strategy and acted as the project lead for the implementation of the Offender Management in Custody Model leading to my site being the first site outside of early adopter sites to achieve full implementation sign off at national level.
- Implemented the use of bespoke reintegration plans from segregation conditions to manage complex behaviour from prisoners in custody leading to a successful reintegration rate almost double that of comparator sites.
- Successfully project managed the change of use for 186 prison places within my establishment including a full cost/benefits analysis, refurbishment, training, service provision and methods of operational delivery for a specialist cohort of prisoners.
- Oversaw the redesign of my establishments local security strategy which later became adopted as the industry standard across multiple sites and recognised as best practice.
- Worked in Partnership with Cancer Research UK to open the first branch of Cancer Research UK within a prison perimeter in the UK providing.
- Proven track record of exceptional performance receiving an outstanding staff performance and development record marking for the past 6 years.
- Acted as project lead for the implementation of local digital forensic interrogation and analysis of data from electronic devices recovered from within prisons to gather and manage intelligence and inform strategy in response to local and national security threats tackling criminality in the prison environment.
- Acted as the SPOC for forensic recovery of data from electronic devices recovered from the prison environment.
Education
NVQ Level 5 - Operational Management
Vocational
NVQ Level 3 - Management
Vocational
2013
NVQ Level 3 - Custodial Care
Vocational Qualifications
2011
NVQ Level 2 - Team Leading
Vocational
2015
GCSE -
Bridley Moor High School
Redditch1999
Master of Science - Criminal Investigations
Investigation Practice
Staffordshire 2024.09 -
Core Skills in Data Recovery
College of Policing
2021
Skills
- Powerful negotiator
- In depth knowledge of market leading forensic tools
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- Risk management processes and analysis
- Process implementation
- Conflict resolution
- Team management
- Staff development
- Coaching and mentoring
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Strong verbal and written communication
- Active listener
- Extremely organised
- Self-motivated
- Critical thinker
- Problem solver
- Progressive and innovative
- Team player
- Budget holder
- Adaptable and resilient
- Acting with integrity
- Empowering, confident, engaging and inspiring
- Ability to deliver at pace
Timeline
Master of Science - Criminal Investigations
Investigation Practice
2024.09 -
Senior Digital Forensic Investigator
West Yorkshire Police
2020.10 - Current
Functional Head
Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service
2010.02 - 2020.04
NVQ Level 5 - Operational Management
Vocational
NVQ Level 3 - Management
Vocational
NVQ Level 3 - Custodial Care
Vocational Qualifications
NVQ Level 2 - Team Leading
Vocational
GCSE -
Bridley Moor High School
Core Skills in Data Recovery
College of Policing