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The PSNI can now hack into phones and tablets seized as part of criminal investigations.

New technology reportedly bought by the service allows it to bypass encryption and see everything in a device - even when the owner refuses to hand over their password.

The technology that allows them to do that is called GrayKey and is described as "the most advanced solution to recover data from an iOS device including the full file system, decrypted keychain and process memory whereas other tools are limited to an iTunes backup only".

Makers GrayShift did not repsond to our request for a comment.

They have a deal with Magnet Forensics to roll it out to police services in the US.

The latter's website outlines how the two firms have "partnered to offer law enforcement agencies the most advanced investigations on iOS devices available today — advancing our common goal to empower law enforcement agencies to seek justice and protect the innocent".

A source alerted Belfast Live to a £20,000 PSNI spend on GrayKey technology, saying they have bought at least one of the machines.

But the service is staying tight-lipped on whether they did or not.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "It would be inappropriate to comment on specific operational equipment however PSNI employs the latest technology and techniques to assist officers in conducting their investigations fully."

Police Scotland told our sister site Glasgow Live recently that they bought 14 of the devices, which will be handed out to officers across all of their policing divisions on Monday, January 20.

It is expected they will be up and running by May 1.

In 2018 it was reported that a number of police forces in England had also invested in the device.

Northern Ireland's Policing Board said it was not made aware of the purchase, but that it would be "an operational matter for the Chief Constable".

A Department of Justice Spokesperson said: "This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable."