A defence lawyer has called for training on how to properly navigate “raw data” provided for court cases during the disclosure process.

Charles Richardson said that he and other counsels were often given electronic police data that was so large, it took hours to download and used up too much computer space.

He added that he and other lawyers had not been given training on how to use the appropriate software, making it even more difficult to analyse the information needed for their clients’ defences.

Mr Richardson said: “Giving me the raw data and no training is like giving me a fishing line and no bait.”

He added: “Someone needs to sort it out but it’s above my pay grade and it’s not my client’s fault.”

Mr Richardson, who was speaking in Magistrates’ Court on Monday, said that the raw data could take hours to download and often took up significant computer space.

He said he had once received “terabytes” worth of data — one terabyte being the equivalent of about 75 hours of video — and was forced to buy another computer to hold the information.

Mr Richardson said that it was common for one file to take about three hours to download.

He added that because he did not have the training to navigate the software used, reviewing the information for a defence statement took even more time.

Defence lawyers are usually given about four weeks to produce a defence statement on behalf of their clients.

However, Mr Richardson said that the difficulties linked to raw data made completing a statement in the typical timeline impractical.

He also shared his concern about the potential for creating falsified electronic data through artificial intelligence.

Mr Richardson said: “In these days of AI, you can create text messages, you can create video, you can create anything that can appear to come from a defendant.”

He suggested that lawyers be provided a workshop to show them how to properly and efficiently sort through raw data.

Adley Duncan, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, said that he was aware of Mr Richardson’s concerns because he had previously raised them in open court and with the DPP’s office.

He said that the DPP was unable to “opt out” of serving raw data as it was part of the office’s constitutional and statutory responsibility.

Mr Duncan told The Royal Gazette that raw data was “generally the preferred choice of format for disclosure by the defence”.

He said: “In that vein, lawyers who seek disclosure of raw data can generally expect to continue to be provided with it.”

When asked about a workshop to sort through raw data, Mr Duncan added: “The Department of Public Prosecutions can always be expected to support continuing legal education and training initiatives that improve operational efficiency in the criminal justice space.

“The training proposed by Mr Richardson would be no exception.”

The Bermuda Police Service were also contacted for comment.