A new report from techUK, the technology industry trade association, calls for a renewed interoperability strategy in UK policing, as well as greater investment in skills and the availability of open APIs.

The report, Demystifying Digital Interoperability in Policing, looks at why interoperability is vital for UK police forces, and offers key recommendations to make improvements for coordination between disparate, and often aging, IT systems.

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.

With antiquated systems that lack the ability to share data between them, police officers and civilian staff are forced to manually enter the same data multiple times, use various logins, and conduct searches across numerous systems.

That, says the research, results in duplication, inconsistencies, and a fragmented view of information, which can lead to missed opportunities for effective responses.

To resolve the issue, techUK’s Interoperability in Policing Working Group (IPWG) has come up with some key ways to make interoperability a central part of new systems and ways of working.

That includes creating a strategy to reduce application dependencies and vendor lock-in, investing in training and expertise to manage technology effectively and improve efficiency, as well as regularly reviewing technology performance to refine strategies and maximise investment.

The tech body also wants more open APIs to ease integration and enhance data sharing, using common data standards, and for police bodies to engage more with techUK for insights and solutions through market sessions that can improve data sharing and technology practices.

techUK’s research connects improvements in digital interoperability with better services for the people that police interact with and protect. According to the paper, victims of crime are better supported when information is centralised and they receive automated updates throughout the crime lifecycle, keeping victims informed and engaged with the process.

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That strategy is already in place elsewhere in UK policing. Connected technology is seen as a key enabler in the National Policing Digital Strategy, which states that the service ‘will put the power of data and information in the hands of officers and staff, when and where they need it’, while interoperability is core to the 2024 Police Industry Charter.

In conclusion, the report states that: “Whilst some positive examples of progress exist, there is no national strategy, framework or specific investment to facilitate interoperability and realise the dependent operational outcomes.

“Moving forward, continued engagement between industry and policing stakeholders, along with learning from best practices in other sectors, will be crucial.”