'Analogue' policing system faces sweeping AI reforms

Home secretary aims to roll out 'state-of-the-art tech to get more officers on the streets' in biggest overhaul in 200 years

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

The home secretary has announced plans to ramp up the use of AI and live facial recognition as she unveils sweeping reforms to fix Britain’s “broken” policing system.

Shabana Mahmood is investing £140m to roll out technology which she hopes will free up six million police hours each year, the equivalent of 3,000 officers, as part of the biggest overhaul of an “outdated” policing model designed for another century.

AI technology will be deployed to rapidly analyse CCTV, doorbell and mobile phone footage, detect deepfakes, carry out digital forensics and speed up administration such as form filling, redaction and transcription.

Ms Mahmood said: “Criminals are operating in increasingly sophisticated ways. However, some police forces are still fighting crime with analogue methods. We will roll out state-of-the-art tech to get more officers on the streets and put rapists and murderers behind bars.”

The government is also increasing the number of live facial recognition vans fivefold, from 10 to 50, which will be used by forces across the country to help catch wanted criminals.

The measures, announced yesterday, are part of the biggest overhaul to policing in England and Wales in 200 years. Other changes include:

• Formation of an FBI-style National Police Service (NPS) to tackle terrorism, fraud and serious organised crime

• A “significant reduction” in the number of police forces in England and Wales, which could see the 43 forces merged into as few as 12 mega-forces

• Neighbourhood policing teams in every council ward to tackle the “epidemic” of everyday crime

• Officers required to hold and renew a mandatory “licence to practice” in order to serve

• Home secretary given powers to sack chief constables and drive up standards in struggling forces