Integrating Technology for a Unified Justice System

The Government has set out clear ambitions to save police officers in England and Wales six million hours through technology, and invest in AI to cut the Crown Court backlog that’s predicted to hit 100,000 cases by November 2027; Alex Lowe of public safety technology experts Axon UK & Ireland argues that those aims are two ends of the same solution – a digital thread running from the first 999 call to the final verdict – which needs to be treated as a whole-system approach to justice technology.

❝The six million hours target and the court reform agenda are two ends of the same system – a digital thread that runs from the first 999 call to the final verdict. Treating them as one joined-up programme, rather than separate policies in separate Whitehall departments, will multiply the impact of both.❞

❝In a city where over 28% of residents speak a language other than English, officers can now listen, respond, and engage with confidence in encounters that would previously have been difficult due to language barriers, and delayed while waiting for a translator.❞

❝A unified approach not only eliminates the procurement bottleneck but also creates a feedback loop that puts frontline officers at the heart of innovation. In this system, input from an officer in Manchester can inform a tool that is then deployed effectively in Cornwall.❞

❝The results from its pilot in Dundee are clear. Around 19,500 pieces of evidence were handled through DESC [Digital Evidence Sharing Capability], freeing up almost 550 hours of police officer time that could be returned to frontline duties.❞

❝The case for a whole-system approach rests on outcomes: fewer victims waiting years for a verdict; more officers in the community rather than filling out forms; and a justice system that works efficiently and responsibly for everyone.❞

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