National Police Chiefs' Council

📢 A round up of the final but fruitful discussions taking place on day three of the National Police Chiefs' Council Innovation and Digital summit. Reflecting on the previous evenings award ceremony, Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan, NPCC Lead for Science and Technology reiterated the importance of advocacy and leadership as policing works to modernise, thanking all finalists for their dedication to a better protected public. In his session alongside Natasha Angwin, Chief Constable Chris Todd spoke to the need for policing to be an intelligent customer, working with partners who value policing data in the same way we do to and ensuring the investment we make now supports us in the long term. Touching on investment, Tony Blaker QPM hosted a session on the National Prioritisation model which seeks to work with policing and Government to ensure investment into technology aligns local need with national priorities, while ensuring wider policing strategy is considered. In a session exploring the role of technology in wider police reform, AC Louisa Rolfe described the exploitation of data and technology as a golden thread, emphasising that it will drive better crime prevention, increase efficiency and enhance national decision making – crucial in the delivery of the Safer Streets mission. In line with this, Bethan Page-Jones spoke to the the direct aims of the Police Efficiency and Collaboration Programme which is working to deliver cashable savings and productivity efficiencies across forces, and reform how we store, use and share data to drive better outcomes. In closing the event, Chief Constable Rob Carden reinforced the importance of recognising the intrinsic link between technology and operational policing, and the need to invest in a digital, data literate workforce. In talking to the need for policing to work better with industry, Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan launched the NPCC Problem Book, to open conversation on the challenges being faced by our service and the public and to explore how existing technologies might help us solve them. 📖 You can read more about the key outputs of the event, including the NPCC Problem Book, here: https://lnkd.in/eNMZZ6kg

Continuing on the theme of data, today Kate Fishers-Stevens hosted a session on the role of the National Data and Analytics Office (NDAO), having recently started in her role as NDAO Director. Delegates were treated to an NDAO quiz, uncovering where policing currently sits in the management and collection of its data and crucially, where it needs to be. Key themes included: 🔵 As a service, we collect vast quantities of data. However, to be used as helpful and reliable insight, this data needs to be of better quality. 🔵 The way we collect and store our data is siloed. Our data needs to be stored in a way that means it is easily shared with law enforcement partners, to improve crime prevention, drive predictive analytics and ultimately, better protect the public. 🔵 Data should be considered a national asset to policing, driving policy, influencing decision making and ensuring a proactive, evidence driven service. 🔵 Technology, such as artificial intelligence, offers great opportunity to improve our service. However, if built upon data that is of poor quality, this opportunity becomes a significant risk. The NDAO is in place to reduce fragmentation in the way we collect, store and manage our data. To ensure national consistency, it will provide national guidance, standards and support to all forces. In improving the quality of our national data, the NDAO aims to support the provision of ethical, evidence based innovation that protects public trust and confidence in the police use of technology. Within its analytics function, the NDAO aims to utilise good quality data to build tools that drive efficiencies and improve our service, making sure that every force, no matter their size and budget, can benefit from robust, innovative tools that offer significant potential to transform how we operate.

On the final day of the National Police Chiefs' Council Innovation and Digital summit, we've enjoyed a series of sessions surrounding the importance of policing data, a common theme of discussion over the past three days. 📽️ Hear from Chair of the National Data and Analytics Board Chief Constable Chris Todd on why policing needs to embrace the true value of its data, in a way that is ethical, lawful and proportionate ⬇️

Less than one week until the Police Science Technology Analysis Research (STAR) Fund 26/27 closes!     The Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser (OPCSA) are looking to support a wide range of your innovation and research to address current and future policing challenges, and create a world-class, science-led police force.    The fund is open to bids from NPCC forces, PCC offices, and national entities such as the NCA and the College of Policing. Expressions of interest are open and close at 5pm 24 October 2025. Full details on the call and how to apply can be found at https://lnkd.in/e5fvj_eF

🎉🏆 Celebrating the best use of science, data and technology across policing 🏆🎉 Tonight our innovation and digital summit recognised the very talented winners of the NPCC Innovation and Digital Awards 2025 👏 After a brilliant welcome from the Merseyside Police band, award winners were celebrated for work which has caught criminals, protected victims and delivered greater efficiency and effectiveness across our service. Chief Constable Rob Carden, NPCC lead for digital data and technology, said: “Innovation and harnessing new technology should be the absolute bedrock for improving policing and building trust and confidence in our service. “Liverpool is a city built on energy, innovation and entrepreneurship, and I am so pleased to see this same spirit run through everything that we have seen showcased at this conference. “The work we have recognised at these awards, as well as the dozens of other projects that were nominated, demonstrate the considerable ingenuity and initiative I see across policing every day.” Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan, NPCC lead for science and innovation, added: “Our award winners embody the very best of policing and I would like to congratulate all of them for their work, innovation and dedication. “Police reform has been a key theme at this conference – and this can only happen by recognising our people, promoting their excellence and evolving our service into one that embraces new technology to deliver the very best outcomes for our communities and our workforce. “There is brilliant work happening across policing, and it is our responsibility as leaders to ensure we identify this innovation and ensure it has the maximum impact across every part of the country.” 

As day two of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Innovation and Digital summit comes to a close, a reflection on just some of the discussion taking place in a full and fast paced afternoon; Aimee Smith and Home Office Data Policy Lead Natasha Angwin spoke to the need to recognise data as a strategic asset that is critical to all aspects of police reform, including police performance visibility and insight led improvements. Alongside Lewis Lincoln-Gordon, NPCC AI Lead Alex Murray spoke to the importance of central leadership in the ethical use of AI, to ensure forces work to consistent standards and principles, as set out in the NPCC AI Covenant. Chief Constable Rob Carden spoke to the National Police Digital Strategy 2025-2030 and emphasised that the intrinsic link between technology and operational policing needs to be recognised, with better collaboration between policing and industry a crucial driver in the cost effective use of technology to solve real world problems, at pace. Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan spoke to the NPCC Science and Technology strategy, reiterating that engagement with communities, academia and the private sector will be key to its successful delivery. Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority for policing and the Government. Giles Herdale and Cinzia Miatto spoke about the joint work techUK has done with policing and other partners to consider technological solutions, including establishing an online hub for best practice: https://lnkd.in/dTCW8cFR In a session looking towards the future of policing, Chief Police Scientific Advisor Paul Taylor said that scaling up existing innovations could save policing well in excess of his previous estimate of £340 million, as well as 15 million personnel hours. He talked about the need to maintain local innovation and better evaluate what works, creating a culture where intelligent failure is encouraged. In highlighting that over half of all crime now takes place online, Andy Dunbobbin spoke to the need for sustainable investment in the digital, data and technology space, stating that wider police reform is not just about efficiency – but about legitimacy, ensuring our service is fit to protect the communities we serve. To ensure informed investment, in a session alongside Jules Lawson, Nick Gargan and Ian Barrett shared an update on the UK Police Digital Experience survey, put together by Policing Insight to gain feedback from officers and staff on what is working, and what isn’t in the digital, data and technology space: https://lnkd.in/eSzECNqh ⭐ Tonight, the NPCC Innovation and Digital awards will take place, celebrating the fantastic work already taking place to transform our service. Guests will be welcomed by the Merseyside Police band, and winners announced later this evening.

Alongside National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), we've today published an annual review of the threat posed by County Lines to UK communities. Covering the period from April 2024 to March 2025, the latest County Lines Strategic Threat Assessment found that there are over 6,500 County Lines in operation across England, Scotland and Wales. However, the rise in internal lines (drug lines operating exclusively in one county) that was evident the previous year, has now stabilised, as has the number of County Lines supplying crack cocaine and heroin – still considered amongst the most harmful drugs and most closely linked to violence. The five key findings of the review are: 🔹 The County Lines threat remains stable, with consistent numbers of lines and drug types. 🔹County Lines are a major driver of violent crime, with 73.5% of offenders known for violence or weapons offences. 🔹Exploitation of children continues, with 2,659 children recorded, though actual numbers are believed to be higher. 🔹 Dedicated policing efforts are impacting the County Lines model, particularly in major exporting areas. 🔹 Harm from violence is decreasing, with a 38% reduction in hospital admissions for under-25s in exporter areas (Metropolitan, Merseyside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire – from which a significant proportion of all line types continue to originate). Link to the report and summary in comments.

📢 Live from Liverpool, hear from National Police Chiefs' Council Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee (DDaTCC) Lead Chief Constable Rob Carden on the role of the NPCC Innovation and Digital summit, and the key areas of discussion for DDaTCC specifically, including the National Police Digital strategy 2025-2030 (NPDS 2025-2030). You can read the full NPDS 2025-2030, here: https://lnkd.in/eRfDDqsG