[iand]

The implication is that police are routinely scanning all Encrochat photographs to extract fingerprints and other biometric details to match with existing databases.

[getlawgdon]

Isn't it just as likely that the police had a hunch and guided a chat with the aim of having the perp take the (or some other) incriminating photo?

[nickkell]

Bobby_1979: Lunchtime, lads. Let's see those cheeses!

CarlS: Check me out, getting fancy with the marks and sparks stilton :P [img]

[pdpi]

Or even more prosaically — they were monitoring that chat for anything juicy at all, and got a break when the conversation organically went to cheeses and the guy posted that pic

[pjc50]

Yes, they compromised the network through the usual means (the center) and recorded all the messages for a while. https://www.reeds.co.uk/insight/encrochat/