A U.K. consultancy focused on policing has issued a report detailing how law enforcement agencies there have been using AI to make themselves more efficient, what is standing in the way of even more AI deployment by police departments and recommendations for policymakers and police leaders that will help them make the most of the AI revolution while maintaining public trust and confidence.
The report, produced jointly by The Police Foundation and research firm Forensic Analysis, describes the tasks that already have been and with intelligent automation and AI including back office support functions, risk management of warrants, resource allocation, optimizing investigative timelines, risk reduction and more. It also identifies areas where it could be used more including video redaction, prioritizing and assisting with emergency calls, identifying internal employee threats, among others.
The report says the technology must overcome several challenges if police departments are to make full use of intelligent automation and AI, most notably that it will require a change in culture and mindset.
“Policing is an overwhelmingly reactive business, responding to current demand rather than looking ahead and thinking strategically about the future,” the report’s authors wrote. “This lack of strategic foresight means that insufficient thought is given to how policing can harness AI and other leading-edge technologies. There is a tendency for police leaders to think tactically rather than strategically about new technology.”
Other challenges for law enforcement that are familiar to civilian entities exploring AI include data readiness, the fragmented nature of police agencies, and bias and privacy issues.