Reporting by this website has helped to prompt the Metropolitan Police to explore the benefits of an app designed to help victims of domestic abuse gather and store evidence. JOHNNY DOBBYN reports on a significant move
Ending violence against women and girls: the Met is now looking into possibly using Kulpa
The Metropolitan Police has formed a working group to explore the benefits of an app and online platform designed to help victims of domestic abuse gather and store evidence.
The initiative comes after work by Croydon Voluntary Action’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) group was reported by Inside Croydon in July this year.
Kulpa allows victims or witnesses to securely store legally admissible digital evidence – including photos, video, audio and documents – and, if they choose, share that evidence with police or other relevant agencies. The service is completely free, and any evidence stored on the platform is preserved in a format compliant with requirements for both criminal and civil proceedings.
While developed with VAWG cases in mind, Kulpa can also be used to record evidence relating to offences such as fraud, theft, criminal damage, stalking and harassment.
Inside Croydon learned about Kulpa from Chloe Smith, the chair of Croydon’s VAWG group.
Since the iC article, Kulpa CEO Simon Franc said that the coverage had prompted “some Met engagement” – a notable shift, given that the force had previously been unaware of the tool.
As a direct result of our reporting, Franc said, “the Met has established a working group with a view to potentially empowering victims and witnesses by connecting to Kulpa”.
Kulpa is already in use by the Hertfordshire, Essex, Staffordshire and Jersey constabularies.
Secure evidence: Kulpa, with its app and online platforms, provides a vital tool for bringing evidence of violent assaults
Hertfordshire Police reports that cases in which victims share evidence via Kulpa show positive outcome rates exceeding 33%, compared with the force’s previous average of 12%.
A core function of the app is enabling victims to capture evidence in real time.
It also has the ability to take photographs of injuries that meet court standards – something that is crucial in domestic abuse cases, where visible injuries may fade before a victim feels safe enough to report the incident.
Users can upload evidence through the mobile app and then delete the app immediately afterwards, leaving no trace on their device. All data remains securely stored and accessible the next time the app is installed.
There is also a cloud-based web option (kulpacloud.com) where users can upload evidence from any device. Users are advised to clear their browsing history if using a personal computer.
Registering via the app or website requires only an email address or phone number.
Logging in involves a three-step process: entering the email or phone number, inputting a verification code, and then a PIN. If the user remains logged in, only the PIN is required—though logging out is recommended for anyone at risk of coercive control.
Users can delete their uploaded information at any time. The sole exception is when evidence has already been submitted to police, in which case deletion must be arranged through the relevant force.
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