In this BAPCO feature, Naomi Bolton of TELENT and representatives from TechUK discuss how technology, collaboration and skills development can support better outcomes across emergency services, justice and policing. Naomi highlights TELENT’s work across communications, networks and managed services, while also reflecting on the renewed momentum behind TechUK’s VAWG and RASSO Working Group and its focus on prevention, the victim journey and cross-sector collaboration.
The conversation then turns to TechUK’s wider Justice and Emergency Services Programme, including its priorities around AI, procurement and digital skills. Lizzie Coleclough and Cinzia Miatto explain why digital capability has become such an urgent issue across policing and public safety, and outline the new digital skills catalogue designed to help professionals across the sector build the knowledge they need to keep pace with fast-changing technology.
The Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme, supported by the JES Council, is excited to unveil the brand new Digital Skills Catalogue, designed specifically for public sector professionals in the justice, public safety and blue lights sectors.
As technology transforms the justice and emergency services landscape, building strong digital capabilities is no longer optional, it’s essential. From modern investigation techniques to effective frontline response, the ability to understand, use, and innovate with digital tools is key to delivering high quality public services.
Recent insights from the Police Foundation reveal that only 27% of police officers rate their ICT training as high quality, a clear call for greater access to relevant, impactful digital development opportunities.
With crimes increasingly driven or enabled by technology, from online fraud to tech facilitated stalking, officers need the right skills to keep pace. This includes everything from core digital literacy to specialist knowledge in areas like digital forensics and data interpretation.
Recognising this need, JES members identified a wealth of valuable training resources already available across their companies’ websites. To help public sector teams find and access these more easily, members proposed a simple but powerful solution: bring them all together in one place.
The result is the Digital Skills Catalogue: a central, easy to navigate resource to help individuals and organisations strengthen their digital confidence and capabilities.
Key takeaways
- Naomi Bolton says BAPCO is a valuable place to connect with emergency services and explain TELENT’s work.
- A big theme is that tackling VAWG and RASSO needs action far beyond policing alone.
- TechUK’s VAWG and RASO group is now focusing on prevention, the victim journey and cross-collaboration.
- The interview highlights how tech can be used positively to support public safety outcomes.
- TechUK says digital skills are now one of the biggest challenges facing justice and emergency services.
- Lizzie Coleclough warns that digital skills adoption has not kept pace with technology change.
- The new TechUK digital skills catalogue is designed to help policing, fire and justice professionals upskill.
- A major message is that better digital capability will be essential to future transformation across the sector.
Chapters
00:00 – TELENT at BAPCO
00:51 – VAWG, RASSO and using tech for good
02:17 – Introducing TechUK’s justice and emergency services work
03:18 – AI, procurement and digital skills
04:48 – Why digital skills matter now
07:11 – Inside the digital skills catalogue
09:29 – How to get involved
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