In this edition of World Policing Weekly, Bernard Rix and Ian Wiggett are joined by former police officer and academic Paul Ford to discuss some of the biggest issues currently shaping policing. The programme opens with the formal appointment of Al Murray as Director of Police AI and explores what that means for the future of artificial intelligence in UK policing — particularly around legitimacy, governance, training, accreditation and the importance of keeping humans in the loop.
The discussion also looks at international investment in policing technology, the continued debate around police reform and possible force mergers in England and Wales, recruitment challenges in Victoria Police, and the difficulties of introducing major structural change while officers and staff remain uncertain about the future. Along the way, the programme features clips from recent Policing TV interviews with Brendan Hook and Alex Franklin-Smith and previews upcoming museum content.
References
- al-murray-appointed-substantive-director-of-policeai
- ai-and-drones-will-change-the-work-of-the-norwegian-police-the-first-phase-will-cost-billions
- gibraltar-police-brexit-treaty-spain
- police-cyber-crime-capabilities-weak-official-reports-show
- https://www.ft.com/content/9a60246e-30de-4c12-911a-c57cf31f4ced?syn-25a6b1a6=1
- state-of-policing-the-annual-assessment-of-policing-in-england-and-wales-2025-26
- what-now-for-force-mergers-after-review-delayed
- alberta-rcmp-defends-9385-million-policing-bill-as-province-builds-sheriffs-service
- international-news-victoria-police-opens-recruitment-to-17-year-olds-in-bid-to-fill-vacancies
- poor-implementation-and-knowledge-gaps-lead-to-cynicism-and-negativity-around-ebp-in-response-policing
- empower-provides-peer-support-for-workforce-domestic-violence-and-ppda-victims-facing-unique-challenges
- police-arrest-grappler-car-florida-state
- https://www.policebumper.com/
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- world-policing-connect-a-new-international-service-helping-policing-learn-across-borders
- Why Fairfax Has a 100% Homicide Closure Rate with Brendan Hooke
- When a Police Alliance Falls Apart with Former Chief Constable
Key takeaways
- Al Murray’s appointment as substantive Director of Police AI signals a more permanent national focus on AI in UK policing.
- AI governance, training and accreditation will be critical if policing is to use the technology legitimately.
- Human oversight remains essential when AI is used in operational police decision-making.
- Police forces risk losing public confidence if AI mistakes and misuse are not properly controlled.
- Major police reform plans in England and Wales remain uncertain, particularly around the future number of forces.
- Bigger police forces are not automatically better, and evidence on the benefits of mergers remains mixed.
- Force mergers can have long-lasting cultural effects that continue for decades after structural change.
- Victoria Police is exploring earlier recruitment to attract 17-year-olds before they enter the wider job market.
Chapters
00:27 – Meet Paul Ford
04:00 – Al Murray becomes Director of Police AI
06:46 – Why AI legitimacy matters
09:33 – Can policing keep public confidence in AI?
11:37 – AI is already creeping into policing
13:51 – AI in policing across three continents
17:11 – What’s happening with police reform?
20:20 – Are bigger police forces really better?
22:41 – Why merger culture can last decades
26:24 – Lessons from Warwickshire and West Mercia
28:54 – Recruiting police officers at 17
30:33 – What support do young recruits need?
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