In this full version of the panel discussion held last month, senior policing and technology leaders tackle one of the most difficult questions in modern law enforcement: how to use AI to improve performance without losing legitimacy, accountability or public trust.

Hosted by Sir Stephen Kavanagh, former Executive Director Police Services, INTERPOL the session brings together :

• Alex Murray, NPCC lead for Artificial Intelligence and Director of Threat Leadership at the National Crime Agency
•  Alfonso Adamo Senior Technology Leader at York Regional Police in Canada
• John Kilburn SAS Regional Industry Leader, with 27 years of experience at Queensland Police

This valuable webinar looked at how to use AI effectively without losing legitimacy, accountability or public trust. Drawing on experience from UK policing, Canada, Interpol and global industry, the conversation move beyond the hype and focus on the real operational, legal and ethical choices facing policing today.

The discussion covers both the promise and the risk of AI in policing. Alex Murray sets out how the UK’s new police AI function is being built around testing, delivery and responsible deployment. Alfonso Adamo explains why public confidence must be designed into systems from the start, not bolted on later. John Kilburn warns that many agencies are already using AI informally, often faster than governance and training are keeping up. Together, the panel makes a strong case for AI that assists humans rather than replaces them.

Key takeaways

• Alex Murray argues policing must embrace AI because the public expects efficient services and criminals are already using it.
• A major theme is that legitimacy and public confidence have to be built into AI from the very beginning.
• The UK’s new police AI function is being shaped around testing, delivery and responsible operational use.
• Early use cases include disclosure, case file building, crime classification and child abuse image categorisation.
• Alex Murray stresses that the human remains responsible for decisions, sign-off and court-facing accountability.
• Alfonso Adamo says public trust should be treated as a system design input, not a communications exercise.
• John Kilburn warns that many police agencies are already using AI without fully developed policy, oversight or training.
• Across the panel, the central message is that AI should strengthen policing only if it remains explainable, controlled and human-led.

Chapters
00:00 – Setting the challenge: AI beyond the hype
06:02 – Alex Murray on why policing needs AI
11:03 – AI, disclosure and the criminal justice challenge
16:00 – Alfonso Adamo on trust by design
21:03 – 52 guardrail questions and what should be approved
26:24 – John Kilburn on the real risks of AI adoption
32:06 – How to test tools, manage risk and avoid false confidence
53:55 – Final thoughts: move forward, but do it responsibly

SAS brings decades of experience and innovation to the law enforcement sector, grounded in a deep understanding that real value comes from aligning platforms, processes and people.

You can also explore the practical realities behind the promise in the SAS whitepaper ‘Trustworthy AI in Law Enforcement: Expert Perspectives on What Works’

SAS’s John Kilburn on using SAS Law Enforcement Intelligence: Improving Front Line Policing – Improving Public Safety

We have launched a YouTube channel where you can also view our videos – just click here and please like and subscribe PTV Youtube