What Is an Evidence Locker in a Dashcam App?
An evidence locker is a biometric-locked storage vault inside Hawk that keeps your dashcam footage secure and court-ready. Every clip recorded in Hawk gets a SHA-256 integrity hash, proving the footage hasn't been altered, and the locker itself is protected by fingerprint or face recognition so nobody can delete or modify your driving evidence.
How Hawk's Evidence Locker Works
Hawk is a dashcam and drive recorder app that turns your iPhone or Android phone into a court-ready camera. When you record a drive, each clip is automatically assigned a cryptographic SHA-256 hash, which acts as a digital fingerprint proving the video hasn't been tampered with. The evidence locker then stores these clips behind a biometric lock (Face ID, Touch ID, or Android equivalent). This fail-closed design means that even if someone steals your phone, they cannot access, delete, or modify your driving footage without your fingerprint or face. As of 2026, this architecture makes the locker suitable for insurance disputes, police reports, and small-claims court submissions.
Why You Need Biometric Protection for Dashcam Footage
Dashcam footage is often your strongest piece of evidence after a road incident. Without biometric protection, anyone with access to your phone could delete clips before you file a claim. Hawk's evidence locker prevents this by requiring biometric authentication every time someone tries to access or export footage. The integrity hash proves to insurers and courts that the video is original and unedited. You can export any clip as a one-tap dispute ZIP that includes the SHA-256 manifest, making it instant to share with insurers or police. This combination of physical biometric security and cryptographic proof is what transforms casual dashcam recordings into admissible evidence.
Evidence Export for Insurance and Legal Claims
Once footage is locked in the evidence locker, Hawk lets you export clips as a dispute-ready ZIP file with a single tap. This ZIP contains your video, the SHA-256 integrity hash, GPS speed and timestamp overlay, and a manifest listing all files. Insurance adjusters and police can verify the hash to confirm the footage is authentic. For small-claims court or rideshare driver disputes (common with Uber, Lyft, or Bolt), this exportable evidence package often settles claims faster than video alone. iOS users can also submit evidence directly to NDSP police-report systems. There is no subscription required to start recording; free users get 10 clips per month and 7-day retention. Hawk Local Pro (£3.99/mo or £39.99/yr) offers unlimited clips, longer retention, and iCloud sync for your locked footage.
Continuous Recording with Integrity Verification
Hawk records continuously while you drive, using optical-flow stabilisation to smooth footage shot from a mounted phone. Every clip in the locker carries a SHA-256 hash written to metadata, which can be verified by anyone examining the footage later. Unlike dedicated hardware dashcams, Hawk runs on your existing phone, so there's no device to buy or maintain. The locker automatically sorts and time-stamps each recording. If you enable the GPS overlay setting (gated by GDPR), each clip also shows your speed and location, which helps corroborate your account of an incident. Rideshare drivers can upgrade to Rideshare Pro (£8.99/mo or £69.99/yr) to unlock cabin camera recording and shift mode, which batches multiple trips into one session for easier review.
When You'd Use the Evidence Locker
The evidence locker is designed for drivers who need proof of what happened on the road. Daily commuters use it to protect themselves in at-fault accident disputes. Rideshare drivers rely on it to defend against passenger complaints or false claims. New drivers often use Hawk to build confidence that they have documentation if anything goes wrong. Fleet managers and small-business owners use it to protect both driver and vehicle liability. The biometric lock ensures that once footage enters the locker, it stays intact until you decide to share it. This matters most in high-stakes scenarios: insurance claim denials, police investigations, or civil court proceedings where video authenticity is questioned.
Evidence Locker vs. Standard Phone Camera Storage
A standard phone camera roll is not evidence-grade. Files can be edited, deleted, or corrupted without anyone knowing. Hawk's evidence locker is different because every clip is immutable (thanks to SHA-256 hashing) and biometrically protected. You cannot accidentally delete evidence because the locker requires authentication to access it. The SHA-256 hash is a permanent cryptographic proof embedded in the clip metadata; if an insurance company or court challenges the footage, you can prove its authenticity with that hash. Standard video storage offers neither immutability nor biometric security, which is why Hawk's locker is built specifically for driving disputes and legal claims.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I access my evidence locker footage without biometric unlock?
No. The biometric lock on Hawk's evidence locker is fail-closed, meaning you must authenticate with your fingerprint or face every time you open it. This prevents accidental or malicious deletion.
Is the SHA-256 hash admissible in court?
Yes. SHA-256 is a cryptographic standard recognised by courts and insurers as proof of file integrity. It demonstrates that your dashcam footage has not been altered since recording. Hawk includes the hash in your exported dispute ZIP for easy verification.
Do I need a subscription to use the evidence locker?
No. The evidence locker and biometric protection are free. Free users get 10 clips per month with 7-day retention. Hawk Local Pro (£3.99/mo or £39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited clips, longer retention, and iCloud sync for Pro users.
Can I export evidence locker footage to send to my insurer?
Yes. Hawk exports locked clips as a one-tap dispute ZIP that includes the video, SHA-256 manifest, GPS overlay, and timestamp. You can send this ZIP to your insurer, police, or small-claims court.
Does Hawk upload my footage to MRVL servers automatically?
No. Hawk Local stores footage locally on your phone. Hawk Local Pro users can opt to sync locked clips to their own iCloud account for backup; footage does not auto-upload to MRVL.
What phones can I use Hawk on?
Hawk works on both iPhone and Android. Mount your phone on your dashboard and press record. No dedicated hardware dashcam is required.