How to Keep an Incident Log (Audio + Written)

Whatever you're dealing with — harassment, a dispute, a pattern of behaviour you may need to report — a clear, dated incident log is the single most reliable record you can keep. It's low-risk, it's credible, and it gives context to any other evidence. Here's how to keep one well.

Important: This is general information, not legal advice. BlackBox is a personal recording tool, not a safety or legal-evidence service, and you should never rely on it as your only record or protection. Recording people without the consent your area requires can be illegal — keep that in mind before adding audio. If you're in danger, contact emergency services, and consult a qualified professional for your situation.

Why a written log is so valuable

• Low legal risk. Writing down what happened to *you* doesn't require anyone's consent, unlike recording them.
• Credible. A contemporaneous, consistent, factual record carries real weight.
• Context. It explains the who/what/when/where that a lone audio clip can't.
• Reliable. It won't be excluded for how it was captured.

What to capture in each entry

Keep it factual and specific. For every incident, note:

Write entries as soon as you safely can, while details are fresh — contemporaneous notes are far more credible than ones written months later.

Combine written notes with other evidence

A log is strongest when it ties everything together:

• Messages and emails — reference them in the log and keep copies.
• Screenshots with visible dates.
• Audio, *where lawful* — note in the log that a recording exists, with its date. See can audio recordings be used as evidence? before relying on any recording.

If you do keep audio, keep the original unedited and let your written log supply the context — this avoids the mistakes that ruin audio evidence.

Keep it factual, not emotional

It's natural to feel angry or upset — but a log reads as more credible when it sticks to facts: what was said and done, observably. Record your emotional impact in the "impact" field rather than editorialising the events themselves.

Store it securely and back it up

A record is only useful if it survives and stays private:

• Keep it on a device and account the other person can't access — ideally not a shared or work device.
• For any audio, keep it on-device and locked — BlackBox stores recordings locally with no upload and a Face ID lock; see the privacy policy.
• Back up to storage you control, so a lost or confiscated device doesn't erase everything.

Don't rely on the log (or the app) alone

A log supports a process — it isn't the process. Combine it with official reports and professional help:

• Report through proper channels (HR, the police, a platform, a regulator).
• Get advice from a lawyer or relevant authority.
• Use specialised support services for harassment or abuse.

BlackBox is not an emergency or legal service; it can help you keep a private, on-device record, but it can't protect you or resolve anything. Treat it as one tool among several.

The bottom line

A dated, factual incident log is the most reliable, lowest-risk record you can keep — and it gives meaning to any messages or (lawful) audio you add. Keep it contemporaneous, factual, secure and backed up, and pair it with proper reporting and professional help. BlackBox can hold the audio side privately and on-device, as one part of a careful approach — never the whole of it.