A Virgin Media O2 Business and PolicingTV roundtable

76% of police professionals predict that digital skills will be more in demand over the next three to five years, according to Accenture. Yet a House of Lords inquiry last year found that technologies are often introduced with little digital training. This is a worrying statistic given that 40% of all crime is now estimated to be online.

As digital transformation gathers pace and the nature of crime continues to evolve, how can police forces ensure frontline officers, senior management and administrative staff use new technologies to their advantage? This roundtable, hosted by Virgin Media O2 Business and the PolicingTV editorial team, covered:

• The challenges involved in delivering training and keeping up with the pace of digital innovation
• The changing nature of crime and the dangers of failing to invest in skills programmes
• How the need for digital skills should influence recruitment strategies
• How police forces can better facilitate knowledge sharing in relation to digital skills
• The role technological partners can play in building digital confidence
• Examples of best practice from across the country

Our panellists included

• Stephen Mold, Chair of the Police Digital Service; Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire
• Ch Supt Phil Davies, District Commander and former Director of Information for Greater Manchester Police
• David Jackson, Director of Business Engagement at the Police Digital Service
• ACC Jonny Blackwell, Cumbria Constabulary
• Ch Supt Katy Barrow-Grint, Thames Valley Police
• Richard Horton, former Sergeant at Lancashire Police,
• Charlotte Hails, Virgin Media O2 Business – Justice & Blue Light lead
• Martin McFadyen, Virgin Media O2 Business – Head of Public Sector

Join Virgin Media O2 Business, and the PolicingTV editorial team as we discussed how we can ensure that policing professionals make the most of digital services and better fight crime.