The UK police are set to acquire and use digital technologies at scale as one of the major priorities for the Strategic Review of Policing in England and Wales.
Indeed, policing minister Kit Malthouse reported that it is vital to implement technology in all areas of the public sector, especially in crime prevention. The department is already working to centralise the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition as well as to upskill the police workforce’s data skills.
This focus on police technology will then help with the changing patterns of crime, which is now almost all online. Hence, the report proposes better police learning and training development in data and technology to deal with online and cybercrimes.
However, there are still many concerns with police deploying new technologies, especially as their safety and efficiency are not yet proven. Facial recognition tech trials have previously been unrigorous and unfair to certain populations.