Since the new government took charge in July 2024, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has become the hub for digital functions in Whitehall. The Government Digital Service (GDS) and the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) have moved under DSIT’s umbrella, but changes in the government’s digital strategy seem ongoing.
On November 19, 2024, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to boost public confidence in UK policing. She pointed out that public trust has declined as community policing has diminished. Crime has grown more complex, and police need better systems and technology to keep up. Cooper called for reforms to ensure local forces can deliver better services.
The Home Office plans to establish a National Centre of Policing (NCoP) that will focus on IT and provide critical support for local forces. “We want to collaborate with policing to develop a National Centre of Policing,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of raising standards and improving efficiency.
The Home Office already plays a role in policing technology, funding the Police Digital Service (PDS). Recent accounts show the Home Office granted PDS £32 million for the financial year ending March 2024. However, previous financial records didn’t detail this funding, and there’s no assurance that PDS will continue to receive support in subsequent years.
Despite reporting a loss of over £1 million in 2024, PDS generated £29.6 million in business. PDS’s role is to develop the National Policing Digital Strategy to help forces address complicated crimes and enhance public safety. With a push for greater efficiency, the government might question the need for two organizations with overlapping responsibilities.
Security consultant Owen Sayers predicted in mid-July 2024 that the new Labour government would reform PDS. He now believes its responsibilities might be absorbed into the NCoP. While the Home Office aims to build on PDS’s work, it faces challenges due to PDS’s controversial history. Two of its employees were arrested in July 2024 on suspicion of bribery and misconduct, leading to CEO Ian Bell’s resignation shortly after.
Critics also cite PDS’s endorsement of US-based cloud services, which often conflict with UK data protection laws. Sayers notes, “PDS has pushed technologies that breach UK data laws, which isn’t ideal.” He raises concerns about a profit-driven model for a government-linked organization, especially one that is losing money.
Cooper’s push for reform also surfaced during her speech at the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners conference. She cited outdated technology, like the 50-year-old Police National Computer, as a barrier to progress. The government is eager to trim IT contract costs to save money for frontline policing.
Calum Baird, a digital forensics consultant, explained that police forces struggle with outdated technology, which inhibits their ability to combat crime effectively. He highlighted the need for legislative updates to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology, such as AI and cryptocurrency.
The future of PDS within the Home Office’s vision for policing remains uncertain. Sayers suggests looking back at how IT was integrated across policing and the justice system during the last Labour government. The previous “Joined-Up Justice” initiative aimed to unify IT systems across the police and court systems, while the National Policing Improvement Agency supported police with IT expertise until its closure in 2013.
Sayers believes the NCoP should undo the trend of relying on US cloud services, favoring technology tailored to UK legal requirements instead. “We need systems built for a diverse set of challenges, not just to manage a crisis,” he said. He emphasizes the importance of homegrown technology solutions that align with UK laws and security needs.
Looking ahead, Sayers hopes for a surge in UK technology innovation in the justice sector over the next five years, provided the government is willing to support such a shift.