Security

Big Brother or Better Backup? The Real Deal with AI in Policing

Let’s get one thing straight: AI in policing isn’t about robots patrolling the streets or sci-fi surveillance fantasies. It’s about helping real officers solve real problems – faster, safer, and smarter. The goal isn’t to replace judgment. It’s to support it.
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Let’s get one thing straight: AI in policing isn’t about robots patrolling the streets or sci-fi surveillance fantasies. It’s about helping real officers solve real problems – faster, safer, and smarter.

The goal isn’t to replace judgment. It’s to support it. Now, picture this…

You’re a detective, mid-investigation, your desk buried in case files. Witness statements, CCTV footage, incident reports – it’s all crucial, but reviewing it takes hours. Only after that can a supervisor step in and do their part, making sure the case stands on solid ground.

But what if AI could cut through the noise? Not by taking control – but by acting as a second pair of eyes.

Spotting gaps. Flagging inconsistencies. Elevating high-priority cases instantly.

That’s not fiction. That’s happening right now.

From Hours to Seconds: Can AI Really Speed Up Case Reviews?

Let’s break it down.

Right now, an in-depth case review can take up to 45 minutes. Multiply that across dozens of cases, and suddenly investigations start dragging. Delays mean missed connections, stressed-out officers, and justice waiting in the queue.

But what if AI could shrink that process to under a minute?

Imagine this: Instead of combing through dozens of pages, supervisors get an instant breakdown of key insights.

    • Missing reasonable lines of enquiry?
    • Conflicting witness statements?
    • Urgent case needing eyes ASAP? Moved to the top of the

This isn’t just about speed. It’s about consistency. It means supervisors can actually conduct daily reviews—catching problems earlier and preventing things from slipping through the net.

The Elephant in the Room: Bias, Security & Skepticism

Let’s not pretend this is a silver bullet. AI in policing brings potential concerns—and they deserve to be addressed head-on.

Bias and Accuracy There’s a reason we’re not jumping straight into using AI for crime prediction or pattern detection. That territory is tricky. The risk of built-in bias is real. That’s why we’re starting with safer ground—like supervisor reviews. It’s about going from AI-possible to AI-proven, building trust with every use case.

Security and Data Integrity

Here’s a golden rule we stick to: Never put confidential data into public AI models. Why? Because that data doesn’t just disappear – it can be stored, shared, or even learned from. That’s a huge no-go for policing.

Instead, we’re building AI tools inside secure IT infrastructure. Think closed environments, private servers, no outside access. Every bit of sensitive info stays exactly where it belongs: locked down and fully traceable. We bring the AI to the data not the data to the AI.

ROI & Deployment Speed Of course, it’s not all about risk. The upside here is massive. We’re talking:

    • Report writing times dropping from 2 hours to 1 minute
    • Reviews trimmed from 45 minutes to 58 seconds
    • Real savings on time, resources, and—frankly—frustration

That’s why we’re investing in this. Not because it’s trendy, but because it works. And because we know that the faster we can remove grunt work from policing, the more time officers have to do what they do best: protect and serve.

Responsible AI isn’t optional – it’s the foundation for everything that comes next.

We’re not here to push tech for tech’s sake.

We’re building a future where AI is a trusted sidekick, not a headline risk. That means:

    •    Secure infrastructure
    •    Transparent use cases
    •    Proven impact, not hype
    •    Constant evaluation to spot bias before it becomes a problem

Success in the long run comes from thoughtful, responsible innovation – not quick wins or showy launches.

And it starts with one question: What if your AI could make policing not just faster

– but fairer, safer, and smarter too?

About the Author: Elliott Young

As Chief Technology Officer at Dell Technologies EMEA, he supports CXOs in both business and IT roles in leveraging GenAI for real-world results. Together with his team at Dell, he empowers organizations of all sizes, from large enterprises to mid-sized businesses, to not only optimize and create competitive advantage with GenAI but also to design entirely new business models. That is where the real revolution happens.

He leads the development of cutting-edge AI and multicloud strategies, helping industries from finance and manufacturing to public safety turn complexity into clarity. A growing area of his focus is AI strategy in policing, where he works closely with senior leaders to enable safer communities through practical, responsible adoption of GenAI — from freeing up officers’ time to improving intelligence review and incident response.

He has been a pilot, a solutions architect and a consultant. Flying a helicopter 50 feet above the ground while herding kangaroos in the Australian outback taught him how to stay calm and in control, a skill that serves him well whether managing a £50k IT project or a £1bn transformation program. He can also be found presenting virtually at various industry events throughout the year.