When suspected pirates are encountered, Royal Navy personnel will collect evidence and take witness statements, as the police would during a criminal investigation. This information is then used to assess whether the evidence against the pirates is sufficiently strong to merit transfer to a third party state for the purpose of further investigation and, if appropriate, prosecution. If such a transfer is made, the evidence is passed to the authorities of the receiving state.
The Royal Navy keeps a record of those suspected pirates detained and transferred to the Kenyan authorities.