Connecting the dots: How digital interoperability is shaping the future of policing
Now that I am just over a year into my role as Programme Manager for Justice & Emergency Services, I’ve had the incredible opportunity of supporting the Interoperability for Policing Working Group (IPWG). Established in 2019, the group has worked very hard to demonstrate the value of interoperability in modern policing, a topic that is essential but often misunderstood.
Traditionally, police systems have usually been developed in isolation, with data accessible only within each individual system. Now there is a growing understanding – especially at the highest-level within UK policing – that this approach needs to change. Interoperability is seen as a central pillar in the National Policing Digital Strategy and is the first principle of the Police Industry Charter. Policing is making progress, but there are still several areas that need more research and discussion, especially when it comes to interoperability and integration.
In the last year, I have quickly learned the complexity of policing, including its structure, how it operates, and the different speeds at which each of the 43 forces move forward and ‘embrace change’, depending on their budget, leadership, available systems, and their internal culture. I have also discovered that a lot of the technology police officers and staff use at work is much older and less advanced than the digital devices they use in their personal lives.
What is interoperability?
When people first hear the term 'interoperability' in relation to policing, they often view it as complicated and a ‘dry’ topic.
The IPWG defines it as
‘Digital Interoperability’ in this context refers to the ability of different IT systems and software used by police forces to work together seamlessly, allowing for more efficient data sharing and communication.
Whilst the tech industry understands the benefits of interconnected systems and data sharing, most law enforcement stakeholders are more focused on how interoperability impacts their day-to-day operations. In most conversation had with police, the two main questions asked when talking about interoperability are, 'How much will it cost?' and 'What’s in it for me and my force?'
These questions are completely valid, especially in an environment with limited financial resources and desire for each force to excel. In this environment, where decisions are under constant scrutiny, investing in the wrong tools can jeopardise public trust and lead to significant issues for police forces.
Given the importance of addressing concerns about the implementation and implications of interoperable systems, it becomes essential to explore solutions that can help forces to progress. The main goal of the techUK working group has been to highlight the tangible benefits of interoperability, showing how it improves operational efficiency, fosters collaborative policing, and ultimately leads to safer communities. Crime today often has a digital footprint, so it's important for law enforcement agencies to keep up with digital trends and work together more effectively across different areas.
Defining the Challenge
When it comes to the technical side, one of the biggest problems with police technology is the lack of interoperability between the systems used by the territorial forces and the various national agencies. Forces are tied to contracts with different suppliers, which means their systems need to be replaced at different times. This makes it difficult to create a coordinated approach to interoperability. The main issue is that officers have to enter the same information in various formats on different platforms, log in multiple times, re-key data, and find it difficult to share data with colleagues from other forces or partner agencies.
Interoperability is the main barrier keeping police from making the most of their data, and it also raises important questions about data quality and standards. Unfortunately, it's a topic that isn't discussed much and that's what we're trying to change at techUK.
IPWG recommendations
Over the past year, our IPWG has made fantastic progress toward our objectives and providing practical best practice, advice, and guidance to law enforcement agencies, looking at demystifying interoperability in its various aspects.
The group has published two detailed documents. The first is designed to assist forces interested in interoperability by explaining key concepts and technological approaches. The second document focuses on guiding forces in procuring the right technology for interoperable systems, helping them to make thoughtful choices.
Interoperability is more than just a final objective; it is a crucial element that allows systems, services and processes to work together smoothly. Also, having an informed buyer is crucial for ensuring the adoption of the right technology tools for policing.
Below are five recommendations that the IPWG suggests to forces who seek to achieve interoperability:
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Develop an interoperability strategy aligned with national goals to reduce dependencies and improve flexibility.
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Build internal skills to navigate complex procurement and maximize value.
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Prioritize solutions with open APIs to enable easier system integration and data sharing.
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Engage with industry for insights and collaboration on best practices.
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Regularly evaluate technology performance to refine strategies and optimize investments.
Looking to the future
Interoperability is a topic that goes beyond policing and involves the entire criminal justice system. The challenges of capturing and managing data, that is held on disparate systems, as well as sharing it securely and quickly with other organisations, affect all agencies within the system.
From the moment a crime is committed, criminal justice agencies must collaborate and share data effectively - yes, but they also need to trust that the information they have is accurate and can be shared securely to keep stakeholders, victims, and witnesses appropriately informed.
The recently reformatted ‘Interoperability Forum’ will serve as a collaborative and open space, where techUK members and criminal justice stakeholders can collaborate, discussing and supporting the digital transformation and data sharing across police forces, courts, prisons and probation services.
My personal thoughts
My takeaway from last year is the importance of collaboration. It’s not just about having the right technology for interoperability to succeed; but having the right culture in place as well. A culture that is open to change and the sharing of ideas, and the understanding of the power of multi-agency problem solving – not siloed working! Both industry and public sector agencies must work together to share ideas, resources, and build trust. We are working to ensure our members really understand what the public sector needs and their key challenges when adopting new technology, to ensure they develop the right products. At the same time, ensuring the conversations we as a trade association drive are outcome driven and generated through a trusting and neutral environment.
Neutral bodies like techUK can facilitate open and honest discussions between law enforcement and the tech sector to encourage collaboration. By exploring and understanding the scale of the challenge and, the needs of our partners, we can ensure industry is better informed to successfully meet their requirements. By driving ‘the art of possible’ conversations, we can together take important steps toward this very much needed cross-sector collaboration.
If you want to contribute to this vital area of work, you can sign up to our forum.