First Response & Preservation Operational Explainer
Should I connect a phone to a charger?¶
Charge it when preventing power loss is more important than the evidential and connectivity risk introduced by a new connection.
That should be a deliberate decision, not an automatic response to a low battery.
The decision test
Compare shutdown risk with connection risk, then use a controlled power source and record what happened.
Power loss can matter¶
Shutdown may:
- lock the phone;
- remove volatile data;
- end live sessions;
- lose unlocked access; or
- re-engage encryption.
Charging can matter too¶
A charging connection may:
- wake the device;
- create USB records;
- display trust prompts;
- open an application;
- provide a network route; or
- exchange data with the connected system.
Risk of not chargingPower loss changes access/stateUnlocked or volatile evidence may disappear.
Risk of chargingNew connection changes stateUSB, prompts, sync or data exchange may begin.
Use controlled equipment¶
Where available, use approved power-only equipment.
Avoid using:
- general-purpose computers;
- vehicles;
- unfamiliar docks; or
- unknown hubs
as convenient chargers.
Record:
- charger;
- cable;
- adapter;
- power source;
- operator;
- connection time; and
- immediate device response.
Could charging create a data connection? explains why the charging path itself matters.
The practical point is: charge to preserve power only through a controlled, documented connection.
