Scotland’s top cop outlines vision for fully digitised justice system after rollout of body-worn video cameras
Scotland’s top cop has outlined a vision for a fully digitised justice system following the national rollout of body-worn video cameras for frontline police officers. Chief constable Jo Farrell pointed...
Ministers urged to introduce ‘primary legislation’ governing live facial recognition technology in Scotland
Ministers are being urged to consider introducing ‘primary legislation’ governing the use of controversial live facial recognition (LFR) technology in Scotland. Dr Brian Plastow, the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner, has written...
Scotland’s criminal courts benefiting from transformative new case management process
Scotland’s criminal courts are benefiting from a transformative new case management process – which has led to over 100,000 fewer police officers called to give evidence. Approximately 3,000 fewer children...
New digital identity scheme aims to reduce the chance of mistaken release for prisoners in England and Wales
A new £82 million digital identity, biometrics and automation scheme will aim to reduce the chances of mistaken release for prisoners in England and Wales. The Ministry of Justice has...
Decision to use live facial recognition technology in Scottish policing could take up to two years, warns policing vice chair
A decision to use controversial live facial recognition (LFR) technology in Scottish policing could take up to two years of further scrutiny, the vice chair of the Scottish Police Authority...
Police Scotland undertake proof of concept AI trial – focused on ‘corporate efficiencies’
Police Scotland have been undertaking a proof of concept AI trial focused on ‘corporate efficiencies’ – using Microsoft Copilot in a drive to improve the retrieval of information. The force...
Corner shop owners call for grant support for modern CCTV after 57% rise in shoplifting in Scotland in last decade
Corner shop owners are calling for government grant support for modern CCTV systems after a 57% rise in shoplifting incidents across Scotland in the last decade. The Federation of Independent...
Shifting horizons for police – artificial intelligence is changing nature of investigations, for good and ill
Artificial intelligence brings enormous potential to policing, with its ability to process large volumes of evidential data and assess for relevance in criminal investigations. But alongside the benefits the technology...
Fieldwork versus paperwork: embracing AI Innovation within policing
In a policing landscape defined by rising demands and shrinking margins for time, officers are being asked to do more with less – to be visible in the community while...
How AI can help Scotland’s justice system address the twin pressures of growing backlogs and administrative load
At this year’s Futurescot Digital Justice and Policing conference, I explored how artificial intelligence can help Scotland’s justice system tackle two linked pressures: growing backlogs and increased administrative load. With...
Public Sector AI 2026: May 21 2026
Digital Justice & Policing 2026: October 22 2026
