The Police Digital Service (PDS) has appointed Tony Eastaugh as the interim CEO following the resignation of Ian Bell due to two employees being arrested for various charges. Eastaugh, the former biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner for the UK government, took on the role on August 19, 2024.
Prior to his appointment, Eastaugh had been working on abolishing the commissioner’s role as part of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which is currently on hold. He brings with him experience from his previous roles as director general of the Home Office.
In a statement, Eastaugh expressed his excitement to join PDS and help deliver digital solutions to the policing sector. He highlighted the importance of technology in improving public safety and the efficiency of law enforcement.
With PDS undergoing a thorough review and facing challenges following recent events, industry experts believe that Eastaugh’s experience in caretaker roles will be beneficial. They hope he will investigate and address issues such as the use of US hyperscale cloud services and compliance with UK data protection laws.
Overall, Eastaugh’s appointment as interim CEO marks a pivotal moment for PDS as it navigates through a period of change and scrutiny.