Data, digital and technology

The scrutiny and oversight of PCCs is a critical element of their shared responsibility with chief constables for decisions to deploy new technologies. Both must ensure that their use is fair and lawful, balancing ethics, right to privacy, unbiased treatment and consent with the absolute right to a fair trial.

At a national level, the APCC and NPCC establish governance and ethics frameworks for new technologies, such as AI and facial recognition. These technologies are associated with risks which demand public oversight, as well as public communication, both of which are exercised by PCCs and chief constables working in partnership.

Emerging cyber technology and new capabilities such as AI and process automation offer potential step change in police effectiveness in crime reduction. Police forces across the country are investing billions of pounds in digital, data and technology systems in order to modernise operations, improve efficiency, enhance public safety and combat a wide range of evolving threats. 

There is substantial investment in improving police productivity through technologies including facial recognition, robotic process automation, drones, automated redaction, public contact systems, knife detection technologies and artificial intelligence and through the establishment of the Centre for Police Productivity. Other key programmes include:

• Home Office Biometrics (HOB) programme  – providing facial recognition and fingerprint matching technologies
• Police National Database (PND)
• Digital Case File project – supporting more efficient and accurate sharing of information between law enforcement and criminal justice systems
• The Digital Public Contact (DPC) programme – helping victims of crime to report incidents to the police and allowing police forces to maintain more effective communication and understanding of victims of crime

Advanced systems such as the Home Office Large Major Enquiry system (HOLMES) and the Multi Agency Public Protection System (MAPPS) will facilitate collaboration between policing and law enforcement agencies, enabling a more coordinated and effective response to crime and security challenges. This extends to international enforcement through the International Law Enforcement Alerting Platform (I-LEAP).

The APCC is working at a national level in partnership with the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) and Home Office to run existing national IT services (such as the Police National Computer) and invest in new technologies (such as the LEDS system that will replace PNC in 2026).

PCCs have a critical role to play in this area, holding chief constables to account for the efficient and effective implementation of police technology in forces, and approving local expenditure.  

Portfolio leads