The future of UK policing is set to be transformed by artificial intelligence, with top officers promising that AI will boost the fight against crime and better serve victims. A £75 million cash injection from the Home Office will create a new centre for AI policing, known as PoliceAI, which aims to get cases to court sooner and supercharge time-consuming evidence analysis, such as reviewing CCTV footage.
PoliceAI Launch and Leadership
Announced on Wednesday, the centre is led by interim director Alex Murray, a former temporary chief constable and National Crime Agency threat director. Murray stated he is open to working with controversial US tech giant Palantir, despite concerns from MPs about British reliance on a small number of US tech providers. Palantir, founded by Peter Thiel, is a prominent donor to US President Donald Trump and holds contracts with several UK public sector bodies. The Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has warned that this reliance presents a “clear vulnerability”.
Palantir Controversy
Palantir has launched a legal challenge against London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s move to block its £50 million contract with the Metropolitan Police. Sir Sadiq argued that Palantir was the only supplier considered by the force, meaning procurement processes were not followed. However, Murray said he would work with any AI company if they could demonstrate that their tools are effective and responsible. He posed two questions to AI companies: “Is your tool effective? Is it responsible?”
How AI Will Change Policing
Murray explained that AI will help free up officers’ time for frontline work, improve support for victims, and bring more offenders to justice through faster, higher-quality investigations. With around 50 employees combining frontline policing experience with AI expertise, PoliceAI will work on behalf of all 43 forces in England and Wales to identify, test, and roll out AI tools and training. This will reduce duplication, deliver consistent high standards, and drive significant savings.
Priority Projects
The centre is focused on real-world policing problems and will prioritise areas where AI can deliver the biggest immediate benefits. Projects already underway include:
- A tool to prepare and quality-check case files of evidence, saving time, reducing officer workload, and supporting faster charging decisions. Pilots begin this year ahead of a national rollout in 2027.
- Technology to identify and categorise child sexual abuse images, reducing officers’ exposure to harmful material and speeding up investigations.
- Tools to quickly analyse CCTV and other digital media, helping detectives identify leads earlier to secure evidence and get suspects into custody faster.
Government and Ministerial Support
The launch is part of the police reform agenda set out in the Government’s Police Reform White Paper published in January 2026, which aims to deliver the biggest redesign of policing for more than 60 years. The centre is set to become part of the planned National Policing Service, which will bring together existing bodies to tackle complex crime, reduce duplication, improve standards and access to technology, and better support local police forces.
Sarah Jones, Minister for Policing, said: “For too long, officers have spent hours behind desks processing paperwork instead of being out in their communities catching criminals. PoliceAI changes that. By putting the best of responsible AI into the hands of all 43 forces, we are freeing up millions of hours of police time, getting more cases to court faster, and delivering on our commitment to put more visible, effective policing at the heart of every community. This is the future of policing — and it is happening now.”
