The profitable initiatives at tonight’s (Tuesday) National Police Chiefs’ Council Innovation and Digital Summit included collaborative work on fraud which considerably lowered re-victimisation, use of facial recognition to catch a severe offender in addition to pioneering operational coaching for police commanders.
Leaders who’ve pushed technological change throughout the service had been additionally recognised at the landmark convention in Liverpool, with Essex Police scooping two awards.
The three day convention, which is organised by the Police Digital Service, is essentially the most vital occasion within the police technology calendar, with round 800 individuals from policing, public sector and trade companions resulting from attend.
Chief Constable Rob Carden, NPCC lead for digital information and technology, mentioned: “Innovation and harnessing new technology ought to be absolutely the bedrock for bettering policing and constructing belief and confidence in our service.
“Liverpool is a metropolis constructed on vitality, innovation and entrepreneurship, and I’m so happy to see this similar spirit run by all the pieces that we now have seen showcased at this convention.
“The work we have recognised at these awards, as well as the dozens of other projects that were nominated, demonstrate the considerable ingenuity and initiative I see across policing every day.”
Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan, NPCC lead for science and innovation, added: “Our award winners embody the perfect of policing and I wish to congratulate all of them for his or her work, innovation and dedication.
“Police reform has been a key theme at this convention – and this may solely occur by recognising our individuals, selling their excellence and evolving our service into one which embraces new technology to ship the perfect outcomes for our communities and our workforce.
“There is brilliant work happening across policing, and it is our responsibility as leaders to ensure we identify this innovation and ensure it has the maximum impact across every part of the country.”
For extra details about the summit visit the event’s webpages.
Winning tasks
Collaboration within the furthering of Digital, Data, Science and Technology
Winner: Essex Police
(Digital Multi Agency Approach to Fraud Innovation)
The Essex Digital Multi-Agency Approach to Fraud (MAAF), launched in 2024, is a pioneering digital collaboration mannequin designed to remodel how fraud is tackled throughout businesses. Developed in response to fragmented and unsustainable legacy techniques, MAAF unites policing, native authorities, buying and selling requirements, sufferer companies and neighborhood companions by a safe, scalable Microsoft 365-based platform.
MAAF is structured round six core workstreams; information, communications, sufferer care, studying and growth, enforcement, and cyber crime, coordinated by formal governance and real-time data sharing. The platform allows fast referrals, tailor-made sufferer help, and proactive fraud prevention, decreasing re-victimisation by 95 per cent.
By utilizing present digital merchandise, MAAF saved an estimated £100,000 in growth prices and £25,000 yearly in staffing, with no value to accomplice businesses. Public engagement campaigns have reached over 500,000 residents, and accredited coaching has upskilled professionals throughout the businesses concerned.
Recognised by HMICFRS pretty much as good observe, MAAF is now being piloted by one other power and has been shared with regional and nationwide companions.
Excellence in Productivity & Value for Money
Winner: Metropolitan Police Service
(Building a Generative AI Freedom of Information Tool)
The Metropolitan Police constructed an AI resolution to assist it handle its rising quantity of freedom of data requests. The new instrument developed by Capgemini working alongside the Met’s inner information science staff exceeded all expectations: the time taken to course of every FOI request has dropped by round 59 per cent, with a selected marked drop within the time to course of extra complicated requests.
Innovation in Embedding Science, Technology, or Digital Solutions to Front Line Policing
Winner: South Wales Police
(Creation & Implementation of Operator Initiated Facial Recognition in Frontline Policing)
South Wales Police continues to pioneer the use of facial recognition technology and has made vital strides in utilizing facial recognition in additional reactive conditions to establish explicit suspects in actual time. Significant session and partnership working went in to the coaching, growth and launch for its operator initiated facial recognition programme, which has thus far helped officers establish offenders who refused to reveal their particulars or offered false data. This included a person discovered to have an impressive European arrest warrant for 12 years for medicine provide and assaulting a police officer abroad, who was recognized from a 13-year-old photograph.
Excellence in Training, Talent & Development in Digital, Data, Science & Technology
Winner: Devon & Cornwall Police
(Police Major Incident Training)
Devon and Cornwall Police labored to ship an revolutionary digital actuality coaching bundle on major incidents for police commanders. Officers who’ve undertaken the course have reported considerably increased ranges of confidence to handle major incidents, whereas the coaching is now being rolled out by different forces in England and Wales in addition to abroad.
Excellence in Cyber Security
Winner: Cheshire Constabulary
(IT Security Team – Securing Active Directory)
Cheshire Constabulary recognized a weak point with entry to its energetic listing system and used it present relationships with companions to run a purple staff train to completely establish the system’s vulnerabilities. It used the outcomes of this train to take steps to mitigate the dangers which was examined in a second purple staff train, which discovered the system to be extra resilient. Some of the training from this train is now being rolled out throughout all forces.
Enabling Diversity & Inclusion in Science & Technology
Winner: Thames Valley Police & Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
(Creation of Women in Technology Initiative)
The forces’ joint ICT division arrange a ‘Women in Technology’ group within the division, led by Claire Finn, to extend illustration and management alternatives. Extensive engagement work by the group, comparable to securing exterior audio system for talks, coaching and growth in addition to mentoring, has helped enhance feminine illustration within the ICT division from 15 per cent to 26 per cent, simply above the trade normal, together with higher illustration in administration positions.
Digital Data, Science and Technology Ambassador
Winner: PC Fintan Foley – Essex Police
PC Fintan Foley has been a relentless champion for driving the uptake of technology options and innovation in his power and past. He has been instrumental in pioneering the use of physique worn cameras and a live-streaming platform inside Essex Police, bettering not solely officer security and operational effectivity but additionally laying the groundwork for nationwide adoption. From integrating physique work video into motorbike models and firearms canine to growing cost-effective 3D-printed mounts and transportable public order kits, PC Foley has persistently demonstrated a forward-thinking strategy that maximises present sources whereas delivering high-impact outcomes.
Excellence in Science & Technology Leadership
Winner: Hitesh Lad – West Yorkshire Police
Hitesh has given greater than 30 years of help to West Yorkshire Police as area and person help supervisor. He is an actual unsung hero for the power, broadly revered by colleagues in his supply of crucial companies for frontline officers and help workers throughout the power in addition to a number of legislation enforcement companions.
Excellence in Science & Technology Leadership
Winner: ACO Dougie Henderson – Greater Manchester Police
Through ACO Dougie Henderson’s management, Greater Manchester Police is now efficiently embracing new technology and seeing outcomes. There has been a shift in considering and tradition throughout GMP, from utilizing refreshed technology, improved platforms and bringing companies again in-house to spice up the native firm. ACO Henderson has been a champion of the power’s ‘think out of the box’ mentality, attracting a number of suppliers and techniques to acquire the perfect technology, in addition to expertise from the native space and in trade.
Failing Forward
Winner: Hertfordshire Constabulary – Nicholas Redfearn
The police chief scientific advisor Paul Taylor recognises this award as half of efforts to drive a tradition of innovation in policing the place forces will not be afraid to attempt new issues. Hertfordshire Constabulary was this yr recognised for his or her efforts to introduce an AI writing instrument to help with issues like transcription, statements and case recordsdata.