Having had time to reflect on this year’s NPCC Innovation and Digital Summit, I am genuinely impressed by how clear and consistent the plan for the future felt. It was obvious that there’s a real, ambitious push for digital change happening across the UK police forces.
An aligned strategy
What stood out the most was the level of alignment across discussions. Whether the sessions focused on data, AI, or national changes, one message came through loud and clear: technology and innovation are vital for fixing policing’s biggest challenges.
For the public, this means getting a consistent service. For officers, it means finally having a joined-up view, which is a significant shift when you have 43 separate forces.
The new National Policing Digital Strategy 2025-2030 makes it clear that tech needs to connect directly with actual police work. It also emphasises that law enforcement needs to collaborate closely with the tech industry to solve problems efficiently and cost-effectively.
Working together and collaborating
A significant theme throughout the summit was the need to collaborate more effectively with industry and universities. The current plan is to open up the NPCC Problem Book to a broader audience and utilise a crowdsourcing approach to find solutions proactively. I believe this “test and learn” method will greatly assist police in achieving their digital goals.
We also heard a direct challenge to tech suppliers: build interoperable products that work together seamlessly. This is what many of our clients are asking for right now. There’s also a shift away from long, complex procurement processes towards more early conversations, through pre-tender market engagement, to build better working relationships with industry partners.
Fixing data first
Data was another central talking point of the summit, and rightly so. Many discussions focused on the need to fix the fundamental data problem. If your core data is messy, even advanced AI won’t work well. Natasha Angwin, Data Policy Lead at UK Home Office, and Aimee Smith, Director of Data at the Metropolitan Police, both emphasised that data must be treated as a key national asset, and its quality, standards, and ability to integrate with other systems must be improved.
The Reality of AI
As you’d expect, AI was a hot topic, examining both how it boosts productivity and the ethical concerns it raises.
Case studies clearly showed how AI tools can speed up tasks for police or how autonomous agents might aid decision-making. However, the message was clear: AI will aid decisions, not replace sound human judgment.
On a personal note, being from Staffordshire, I was proud to see how many of the digital innovations being tested across the country were happening right there first.
The Final Hurdle: Making It Happen Locally
The national strategy is set, and the excitement was real. The biggest issue now is ensuring that every individual police force buys into this national plan, as they still have the final say on how it is delivered locally.
The idea of a National Centre for Policing and pushing for a single direction for the entire Criminal Justice System (CJS) are essential steps to get everyone on the same page.
The summit successfully established a clear and consistent path. Now, the real work of translating this unified vision into practical, local action begins.
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About the Author
Alina Graham
User-Centred Principal
As a chartered human factors specialist and user-centred principal, Alina Graham excels at creating effective and impactful user experiences. Her career spans designing operator environments at JCB, enhancing manufacturing processes at Aston Martin and improving digital prison services. Her consultancy work with government departments like the Home Office and GDS highlight her dedication to accessible and intuitive design for diverse user groups.
