Artificial intelligence is starting to influence how police work across the UK. The National Police Chiefs’ Council believes AI can make investigations faster and improve how officers handle large amounts of information. It also wants British policing to become a leader in using responsible AI.
At the moment, most of the work using AI is small-scale and happens within individual forces. To move things forward, the Accelerated Capability Environment was asked to design a national model that links universities, private sector experts and police teams. The goal is to use research and data tools to help officers solve crimes more efficiently.
ACE ran an initial study with 6 suppliers to see what a national AI lab might look like. It examined what kind of space and skills would be needed, how data could be used safely and also how to connect the lab to existing police systems. They held 2 workshops to test different ideas. These covered topics such as technology mapping, skill gaps, data rules and possible funding models.
From there, 3 design options were then written up. The bronze version would have continued the current small projects and was dropped. The silver version met policing needs over the next three years and was seen as workable. The gold version would create a world-class lab within 18 months and was recommended as the best choice. ACE itself was treated as an example of how such a lab could run in practice.
The idea is that an AI lab could help police forces across the country test new tools safely before using them in real cases. This would help officers spend less time on routine analysis and more time on community work.
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How Are Police Studying Criminal Use Of AI?
On top of it being used to help the police, AI is also being used to study how criminals use it. The Home Office’s Public Safety Group asked ACE to find out how generative AI is being used for illegal activity.
GenAI has increased crimes such as fraud, child sexual abuse material and fake intimate images. There are fears that these tools could also be used to teach users how to commit crimes or automate harmful acts. Instead of waiting for new crime patterns to appear, PSG wanted to study the tools themselves.
ACE began by mapping the GenAI market to understand which products could be misused. Four main areas were analysed. The first was image and video generators, such as deepfake and “nudification” apps. The second was chatbots based on large language models, which can be used for scams or spreading false information. The third was voice cloning tools, often used in phone fraud. The fourth was predictive analytics software that can be used to find and target victims.
The project produced a baseline report on what AI products exist, what risks they pose, and what safety measures are being built into them. This helped PSG gain early insight into a fast-moving field and prepare policies before the problems grow larger.
How Do Police Keep Track Of New AI Threats?
After completing its main report, ACE was asked to keep researching AI products and report back to the policing network. It now sends a monthly newsletter to over 350 people in law enforcement. The newsletter explains new AI tools, how criminals might use them, and what precautions are being developed.
This regular update helps officers and government staff understand where new risks are coming from. It covers issues such as deepfake scams, voice cloning and chatbots being misused for fraud or manipulation.
Monitoring this area has become a steady task for UK policing. Technology changes quickly, and the difference between legal use and criminal misuse can be small. Keeping awareness high allows police forces to adapt their response before these tools cause serious harm.
The Home Office sees this work as necessary to keeping crime prevention modern and effective. Through projects like ACE’s AI lab study and GenAI tracking, UK policing is trying to use AI in a safe and responsible way while keeping criminals under pressure.
