Technology can put police in the picture
Body-worn cameras (BWCs) are already a common feature of policing in the UK, although they are not widely used in Scotland. A research team that I led has produced an…
County lines drug dealers under threat from sophisticated forensic analytics techniques
‘County lines’ criminality – where city drug dealers establish dedicated mobile phone or other forms of ‘deal lines’ to supply and sell drugs to users in towns and rural areas,…
Slight decrease in public sector fraud levels in Scotland, according to new audit
The overall amounts of fraud, overpayments and error in the public sector in Scotland have reduced in the last two financial years. New figures from Audit Scotland show that of the 132 Scottish bodies…
Police must ensure checks and balances in place before introducing body-worn video camera
Police must ensure appropriate checks and balances are in place before introducing body-worn video camera systems in Scotland, a new review of the technology has stated. Senior officers are being…
Body-worn video camera tech moves a step closer to policing frontline in Scotland
The use of body-worn video (BWV) on the frontline of policing in Scotland moved a step closer this week after a report on the technology was published by a key…
Code of practice governing facial recognition technology could be approved by autumn
A new code of practice governing the use of biometrics in Scottish policing – including controversial facial recognition technology – could be approved for use by autumn. Dr Brian Plastow,…
Motorola invests in new Edinburgh innovation hub for first responder technology
Public safety technology giant Motorola Solutions has opened an Edinburgh office as it builds its presence in Scotland. The American enterprise tech company – which specialises in providing devices and…
Scotland’s external affairs secretary in US firm visit to promote transatlantic tech trade links
Scotland’s external affairs secretary has met with a leading US digital firm to promote the transatlantic tech trade. Angus Robertson visited the Washington DC offices of artificial intelligence and advanced…
Scotland’s biometrics commissioner: ‘My role is not one of curtailing the police’
It’s safe to say it has been a busy year for Brian Plastow, the man charged with overseeing the impact of controversial new technologies in policing such as facial recognition…
Cost of mobile phones for prisoners soars to £3.2m
The Scottish Prison Service has spent a total of £3.2 million on mobile phones for inmates, it has emerged. A controversial initiative which gives prisoners access to in-cell phones was…