The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has approved a new five-year digital strategy for the country’s police force, making a priority of the adoption of body-worn video.
Its board discussed the strategy last week, qualifying its approval with the caveat that the ability to deliver will depend on appropriate revenue and capital funding being made available.
Participants in the discussion emphasised that the need to invest in body-worn video for officers – an area in which Police Scotland has been a slow adopter – is regarded as a priority.
Others include the use of new technologies to support investigations.
The outline business case for the strategy estimates that it will require just under £400 million over the five years, but the discussion made clear it would be dependent on the money being made available.
Andrew Hendry, chief digital and information officer for Police Scotland, told the meeting that it has a modular structure that will make it possible to implement various elements as funding is provided.
Five themes
The strategy covers five strategic themes: tackling crime through a cyber and intelligence led capability; modernising access to services; providing the right digital tools to officers and staff; partnership working and secure digital collaboration; and utilising digital technology and data to improve the criminal justice system.
In addition to its identification of the need for body-worn video, it points to key projects including the development of a digital evidence sharing capability, the implementation of next generation command and control, an intelligence policing programme, development of a data science capability and force-wide analytics, and a national law enforcement data service.
The business case, however, emphasises that emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning and facial recognition will be considered for operational policing only after the appropriate data ethics assessments have taken place.
This reflects concerns, expressed by a Scottish Parliament committee in 2021, around the use of live facial recognition software in policing.
The strategy also includes bringing the chief data office into the digital division, reflecting an understanding that the two streams are more powerful together and that it will encourage the development of privacy and security by design.
In addition, it involves the creation of 54 new permanent roles in the digital and data divisions, along with changes in some of the existing number of just below 500. It says this will provide new skills in agile and product-centric working practices.
Keeping people safe
Deputy Chief Constable Designate Fiona Taylor QPM said: “This strategy outlines requirements for further investment in digital technology to better enable our officers and staff to keep people safe in the 21st century.
“However, our ability to achieve our ambitions will depend on appropriate revenue and capital funding being made available to us.
“Police Scotland has an important role in modernising criminal justice to benefit the public we serve by introducing new technology, such as the establishment of a single national crime system, the greater use of video interviews, digital evidence sharing and virtual courts, and improved digital contact services for the public
“We know technology such as mobile working can improve officer and staff safety, alongside improving public trust and confidence, and this strategy reaffirms our commitment to make body worn video widely available across the service.
“When we do introduce new technology, we are committed to engagement with partners and the public so we can address any concerns and ensure the use of the technology is transparent, ethical, and aligned with our values of fairness, integrity, respect, and our commitment to upholding human rights.”
