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uk Legal, police, prison & official contact preservation notice • do not destroy records • told not to delete messages • do not delete texts • keep photos and videos • preserve chat history • evidence preservation letter • relevant to a case • legal dispute records • court case documents • police investigation material • whatsapp messages evidence • disappearing messages turned on • auto delete messages turned on • cloud photos deletion risk • shared device messages • work account messages hold • worried i already deleted • stop deleting now

What to do if…
you receive a notice that you must not destroy messages, photos, or records relevant to a case

Short answer

Stop deleting anything connected to the matter immediately and turn off any auto-delete/disappearing-message settings. Then get the notice to a solicitor (or your organisation’s legal team) and follow their preservation instructions.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t delete, edit, “tidy up”, or selectively remove messages, photos, emails, files, call logs, notes, or social media DMs connected to the matter.
  • Don’t factory-reset, wipe, “clean” storage, replace your phone, or migrate to a new device in a way that could remove data.
  • Don’t turn on (or expand) disappearing messages/auto-delete; do turn them off if they’re already on.
  • Don’t keep only screenshots while deleting originals (screenshots can lose context/metadata).
  • Don’t create rewritten summaries and treat them as originals, or backdate anything.
  • Don’t ask anyone else to delete things on your behalf.

What to do now

  1. Freeze deletion right now.
    • Turn off disappearing messages/auto-delete in any messaging app you used for this (for example: WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook Messenger).
    • Pause “cleaner” tools that auto-remove old photos/downloads/chats.
  2. Stop anything that could erase data by accident.
    • Do not reset, wipe, “free up space” in bulk, or do a phone “upgrade/migration” until you’ve had instructions.
    • If you’re worried that changes on one device will sync across devices/cloud, stop making edits and get advice before changing sync settings.
  3. Work out what the notice is asking you to preserve (without overthinking it).
    • Note the date range, the people involved, and the places data might exist (texts/DMs, email, photos, cloud drives, work chat, backups).
    • If it’s unclear, assume a broad scope and preserve more rather than less.
  4. Create a tiny preservation log (1 minute).
    • Write: when you received the notice, what you did to stop deletion, and which devices/accounts likely contain relevant material.
    • Keep it factual and dated.
  5. Route it to the right place today.
    • If this is through work/organisation: forward the notice to the named contact or your legal/compliance team and ask (in writing) what to do about work systems (email, Teams/Slack, shared drives, retention settings).
    • If this is personal: send the notice to your solicitor (or contact one) and ask for immediate “what must I preserve and how?” instructions.
  6. If police/criminal proceedings are involved, keep it preservation-only.
    • If the notice came from police (or you’re a witness/victim asked to keep material), ask for the OIC/contact details and reference number and tell them you have paused deletion.
    • Don’t try to investigate, curate, or edit; focus on keeping things intact.
  7. Make sure other users of shared devices/accounts don’t delete anything.
    • If you share a phone, iPad, family computer, or login, send a short message: “I’ve received a notice to preserve records for a case—please don’t delete or ‘clean up’ anything related.”

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to complain, settle, plead, or give a detailed account.
  • You do not need to organise everything into neat folders right now (that can lead to accidental loss).
  • You do not need to contact the opposing side directly today unless the notice specifically requires it and you’ve had advice.

Important reassurance

This kind of notice can feel accusatory, but it’s often a routine “don’t delete anything” step once a dispute or investigation is possible. A calm, boring response—stop deletion, keep things intact, get advice—is usually the safest move.

Scope note

This guide covers first steps to prevent irreversible mistakes (loss or alteration of records). Next steps—collection, disclosure, or handing anything over—depend on the type of case and should be guided by a solicitor or the named contact on the notice.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Obligations and processes vary depending on whether this is a civil dispute, employment matter, regulatory issue, or criminal case. If you think you already deleted something relevant, don’t try to “fix” it yourself—write down what happened and get legal advice promptly.

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