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Police: Technology

Asked by Steve DarlingLiberal DemocratHome OfficeTabled Answered 8 June 2026UIN 6293

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to encourage police forces to adopt advanced technological innovations.

Answered by Sarah Jones

Modernising policing to respond to increasingly digital and complex crime means equipping officers with the latest technology and access to accurate data. We are working with forces to understand barriers to technology adoption and we are providing support to raise capability across forces.

This is already underway through investment in the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser, which leads science and innovation coordination as part of national efforts to improve police technology, and drives innovation through pilot schemes.

The Government is investing record levels to support the police rapidly but responsibly adopt AI, with £115m committed over the next three years including for a new national centre for AI in policing and expanded use of live facial recognition.

The Government has also committed to supporting police to develop new data integration solutions, clearer decision making for policing data and develop national standards, which should reduce some of the barriers to adoption of technology.

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