Assessing Risks to the Security of the Information Data protection is important for the safety of victims, witnesses and any individuals involved in the investigation. See also Chapter 4 on Management of Information. • Do you have a plan in place to safely collect and store information? How will you keep information that you gather safe and confidential? When, why and how will you destroy information at risk of confiscation? • Do not destroy paper copies of interview, notes, or other documents unless a tangible risk of real danger exists, as these might become useful in subsequent criminal proceedings as appropiate. • How will you transport any information and evidence you gather? • Are you able to maintain “Chain of Custody” and do you have the capacity to safely secure the information for long periods of time? • Some documents received may be fragile or in poor condition. Storing the original documents in an environment where the document will be safe from the elements (such as fire, water, and humidity) may help to prevent the information from deteriorating further. In order to prevent the loss of information contained in the document, the information collector should take pictures or make copies of the document by other means.44 Appropriate measures include storing data in a secure location; using a safe for records and notes, only using secure computers, and defining and recording who has access to what type of data. 45 More details that are crucial for data protection can be found in Chapter 4 on Management of Information. 2.2.2 Security Measures On the basis of the risk assessment, prepare adequate security measures to deal with, prevent or decrease the risks that are identified. In addition to providing for strategies relating to the aspects raised above, bear in mind the following: 44 Foreign and Commonwealth Office, International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, 35 (2014). 45 Cynthia Petrigh, Protection of Witnesses, Victims, and Staff in Monitoring, Reporting, and Fact-finding Mechanisms, PROGRAM ON HUMANITARIAN POLICY AND CONFLICT RESEARCH, HARVARD UNIVERSITY 1, 41 (2014), available at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2392493. 42