JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors Banner Image

Useful Information

  • Home
  • Useful Information
  • Crime/Fraud
Services
People
News and Events
Other
Blogs

What is Encrochat?

  • Posted

EncroChat was a European communication network and service provider that, from 2020 onwards, has been at the centre of a large number of arrests.

EncroChat was found to have been used as a ‘criminal marketplace’, where users could hide their identity via encrypted messages. A multi-jurisdiction operation led to EncroChat being breached by European agencies, including the National Crime Agency in the UK, who were then able to access text messages and images sent between users.

We discuss EncroChat and the potential implications of being a user in this article, as well as discussing what you should do if you have any concerns that the police may seize and search your devices.

While we hope this information is useful, please note, it should not be taken as legal advice. If you are concerned about being subject to an EncroChat arrest, then please get in touch and our team can advise you.

How does EncroChat work?

While it was operating, users were able to purchase a modified Android phone from EncroChat. When sending messages from these phones, users could hide their identities and encrypt messages to remain anonymous. If messages were intercepted for any reason, the messages would theoretically be impossible to read. Additional measures could be put in place, such as self-destructing messages and a ‘panic-wipe’ system.

Due to these features, EncroChat was alleged to have been used to facilitate serious organised crime. This included:

  • Drug dealing
  • Planning violent crimes
  • Money laundering and fraud
  • Importing illegal items, such as weapons

EncroChat is no longer active, having been permanently shut down in June 2020 following the investigation.

Who owns EncroChat?

The original founders and owners of EncroChat are unknown. It has been speculated that a Dutch organised crime hand was involved and financed the developers of EncroChat.

How did police hack EncroChat?

It is thought that the joint operation into EncroChat led to a piece of malware being planted on the French server in 2019, meaning they were able to interrupt the ‘panic-wipe’ feature and access messages between users.

By April 2020, European agencies, including the NCA, had access to millions of messages, which were then analysed before arrests were made.

Following the initial set of arrests in 2020, Dame Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said: “This is just the beginning. We will be disrupting organised criminal networks as a result of these operations for weeks and months and possibly years to come.”

What should you do if you are concerned about EncroChat arrests?

If you are concerned about the potential of being arrested as a result of the EncroChat investigation, or you need clarification on the police’s powers to search your phone and social media accounts, our expert criminal defence solicitors are here to help. We have acted in several high profile EncroChat cases.

At JD Spicer Zeb, our EncroChat solicitors understand the complexities of these types of cases and what is required to build the strongest possible defence against any allegations you may be facing that are associated with the use of EncroChat.

We are highly skilled at handling the various types of evidence that may be relied on in these cases, including digital forensics. We have the skills and expertise to spot any potential flaws in the case against you and ensure that evidence that can be used to support your defence is correctly highlighted.

Our team have over 45 years of experience in handling criminal law matters and have been recognised with a Law Society accreditation in Criminal Litigation. Throughout the years, we have been able to establish a strong track record of success and have established close relationships with some of the country’s leading criminal defence barristers.

If you are facing a charge related to the EncroChat cases, we are here to provide you with the support you need.

Related matters

We also provide support and guidance on various matters that are related to the EncroChat arrests, including:

Our related cases

Fees and funding

When you work with our team, we will always be upfront about the legal fees that are likely to apply.

If you need to attend court in relation to an EncroChat case, legal aid public funding may become available. This will be the case if your matter justifies the grant of public funding.

Where you do not qualify for legal aid public funding, the alternative option is to fund the case on a private basis.

To find out more about the way we handle fees (both legal aid public funding and private fees) for an EncroChat arrest, please use the links provided below:

Contact our criminal defence lawyers today

If you are due to attend the police station, require any urgent specialist advice, or immediate representation in relation to an EncroChat investigation, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact our dedicated criminal defence lawyers in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you quickly.

24/7 legal representation for EncroChat charges

Please get in touch for a free consultation with one of our expert criminal defence solicitors, as well as immediate representation and advice for EncroChat.

We are available to represent clients all over England and Wales at any time, so please contact our Emergency Number at 07836 577 556.