Realising Digital Change in Policing: Policing, Information and Data

The Digital Policing Strategy 2030 presents an ambitious new vision for the future of digital and technology in policing in the UK. In this one-day conference, we present recently completed research findings, best practice from forces and knowledge from private sector partners, which may help forces achieve this vision.

The conference will be followed by a conference dinner - please let us know if you are able to attend both the conference and the conference dinner.

Conference Programme

Please be aware some details may change. See the full programme here.

Speakers include:

• Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
• Gina Gill, Chief Digital & Information Officer at the Ministry of Justice
• Professor David Allen, Chair of Information Management at Leeds University Business School
• Steve Whatson, Deputy Programme Director, Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme
• Dr Alistair Norman, Lecturer in Information Management at Leeds University Business School
• Dr Emma Gritt, Lecturer in Information Management at Leeds University Business School
• Nigel Brown, Retired Cabinet Office Lead for Resilient ICT Strategy
• Chief Superintendent Phil Davies, Director of Information at Greater Manchester Police
• Alan Baldwin, Executive Consultant on Tech and Workforce Matters for Public, Private and Third Sectors
• Ian Williams, Software Consultant for Europe Motorola Solutions
• Dr Aleksandra (Ola) Irnazarow, Research Fellow in Management at Leeds University Business School
• Dr Des Leach, Associate Professor of Organisational Psychology at Leeds University Business School
• Inspector Richard Atherton, Police Adoption Specialist the Police Digital Service
• Chief Superintendent Mark Nottage, Chief Superintendent, Force Crime & Incident Response Command, Kent Police
• Professor Andrew Brown, Professor of Economics and Political Economy
• Dr Fatema Zaghloul, Lecturer in Digital Business Systems at University of Portsmouth
• Justin Partridge, Post Graduate Researcher, Leeds University Business School, formerly Assistant Chief Officer Humberside Police
• Darryl Keen, previously Chair of the UK’s 999 Liaison Committee and recently retired Chief fire Officer, Hertfordshire
• Chris Lucas, British APCO Vice President and Ambulance Senior User and Assurance Manager for the NHS Ambulance Radio Programme (ARP)
• Trevor Baldwin, QAM, Head of Service Development A&E Operations, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Alan Wood, Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme - User Led Assurance
• Claire Hursell, Head of Business Change, Information and Technology, Kent Fire and Rescue Service

Outline of the Day

The conference will open with an introduction from Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and a keynote from Gina Gill, Chief Digital and Information Officer at the Ministry of Justice.

The first session will focus on the challenge of initially understanding and realising the value of technology. The pandemic has accelerated the shift to digital and we will explore how police services have responded. A systems-based approach, developed with and for police services, will be presented which provides a methodology for establishing the value of technology for forces and redesigning areas of work in a holistic manner. This will be followed by a panel discussion on accelerating digital change, where panellists reflect on their own practice. Panellists include Steve Whatson, Deputy Programme Director, Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme and Chief Superintendent Phil Davies, Greater Manchester Police.

In the afternoon, we will explore research and practice that illuminates emerging digital capabilities delivered through mobile technology. We will present research results on the use of self-service analytics and artificial intelligence by UK police services based on analysis of four police cases and UK inter-agency initiatives. This will be followed by a panel discussion. Panellists include Inspector Richard Atherton, Police Adoption Specialist at the Police Digital Service and Chief Superintendent Mark Nottage, Kent Police.

Our final session will focus on partnership working. The recent PEEL spotlight report: The Hard Yards – Police-to-police collaboration notes that this is an area of concern for all forces and asks forces to have effective systems to track the benefits of collaborations. We will provide empirical evidence of the challenges and benefits of police-to-police partnerships and police-private sector partnerships. This will be followed by our final panel discussion which will bring into focus the perspectives of other services and organisations on partnership working with the police. Panellists include Chris Lucas, British APCO Vice President and Trevor Baldwin, Head of Service Development at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

The event will conclude with a dinner, sponsored by Motorola, where discussion will be stimulated by a presentation by Alan Wood, Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme - User Led Assurance, who will discuss partnership working with discussion led by Claire Hursell, Head of IT and Business Change for Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Covid-19 Safety Measures

Due to COVID-19 safety measures, delegates are advised to bring their vaccine certificate or a photograph/screenshot of a negative lateral flow test taken 24 hours before the event.

If you have any questions about our covid-19 safety measures, please contact Lucy Simpson on l.h.b.simpson@leeds.ac.uk.

This event is part of the Leeds University Business School’s Ideas in Practice seminar series, bringing together business people, policy makers and academics. The events take place in Leeds and London where we discuss important topics and share ideas to help companies and public bodies both in the UK and globally. Find out more here.

This event is sponsored by