By Andy Day, Director of Enterprise Strategy for the Public Safety Group
In summary
- The key message at the NPCC Innovation & Digital Summit was that technology alone is not the answer.
- Trusted, connected data is fundamental to transformation, helping policing make better-informed decisions and get more value from the information it already holds.
- AI is moving from experimentation towards practical application, with the focus on reducing administrative burdens, improving productivity and supporting frontline outcomes while maintaining appropriate governance and trust.
Last week, Sopra Steria attended the NPCC Innovation & Digital Summit in Liverpool alongside Oracle, joining policing leaders, government representatives and industry partners from across the UK to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of policing.
While the agenda covered everything from AI and cyber resilience to workforce productivity and national reform, there was also a clear sense of urgency. Innovation is happening across policing, but the bigger challenge is turning that innovation into meaningful impact at pace.
Across keynote sessions, panel discussions and conversations on the exhibition floor, one message came through consistently: technology alone is not the answer. Progress depends on trusted data, interoperability, effective governance and, crucially, the ability to translate new ideas into better operational outcomes.
Data remains at the heart of transformation
One of the strongest themes throughout the summit was the growing recognition that data is one of policing's most valuable assets.
Organisations are generating vast amounts of information every day, yet many continue to face challenges in connecting data sources, sharing information effectively and extracting actionable insight. Discussions throughout the summit highlighted the importance of creating a common foundation where trusted, high-quality data can support officers and staff in making faster, more informed decisions.
The conversation has clearly evolved. Rather than asking what technology can do, leaders are increasingly asking how technology can help them make better use of the information they already have.
Moving from reactive to preventative approaches
Another recurring theme was the desire to move beyond reactive service delivery towards more preventative and outcome-focused approaches.
Whether discussing public safety, workforce wellbeing or operational effectiveness, many conversations centred on the opportunity to identify risks earlier, allocate resources more effectively and improve outcomes for both officers and citizens.
This closely reflected the thinking behind our Predict More. Protect More. campaign, which explores how connected data and actionable insight can support better anticipation of challenges before they become issues. Rather than focusing solely on responding to events, organisations are increasingly looking at how they can use information to anticipate needs, improve resilience and make more proactive decisions.
The role of AI is becoming clearer
Artificial intelligence featured prominently throughout the summit, but the conversation was increasingly focused on moving from experimentation to practical application.
The focus now is not simply on what AI can do, but where it can deliver meaningful value. Leaders are exploring where AI can reduce administrative burdens, improve productivity and help frontline teams spend more time focused on outcomes rather than processes, while maintaining the right governance, trust and ethical safeguards.
There was widespread recognition that AI's success will depend on the quality of the data that underpins it. Without trusted, connected and accessible information, even the most advanced technologies will struggle to deliver meaningful value.
Listening first
One of the most valuable aspects of the summit was the opportunity to listen.
Our conversations with policing leaders, national bodies, government stakeholders and partners reinforced just how much innovation is already happening across the sector. But they also highlighted the challenge of turning that innovation into practical improvements at pace.
Delegates were not looking for technology for technology's sake The conversations were grounded in outcomes: how can innovation improve services, better support the workforce, deliver efficiencies and ultimately achieve better outcomes for the public?
For frontline teams, that could mean having a clearer picture of officer skills and availability against expected demand, helping forces identify potential gaps in coverage earlier. It could also mean bringing together contact, incident and workforce information to give those making operational decisions better context, or connecting demand with fleet and equipment planning so resources can be aligned more effectively with need.
For IT teams, supporting these outcomes means creating trusted, connected foundations that allow information to be shared and used more effectively while maintaining the governance policing requires.
That perspective strongly resonated with our own approach. The most successful transformation programmes start with the desired outcome and work backwards, rather than beginning with technology and searching for a problem to solve.
Strengthening collaboration
The summit also provided an excellent opportunity to continue strengthening our partnership with Oracle.
Together, we had the opportunity to engage with a broad cross-section of leaders from across the policing landscape, explore shared challenges and discuss how organisations can modernise legacy environments, unlock greater value from their data and create stronger foundations for future innovation.
The conversations reinforced our belief that meaningful transformation increasingly depends on collaboration. No single organisation can address these challenges alone, and the most successful outcomes will come from combining technology, expertise and shared ambition.
Looking ahead
We left Liverpool with valuable new connections, a deeper understanding of the priorities shaping the sector and, importantly, a strong sense of urgency around turning innovation into impact.
The challenge now is to translate that ambition into practical progress. From making better use of data and AI to giving frontline teams better information and aligning people and resources more effectively with demand, the focus must remain on where change can make a tangible difference to everyday policing.
Continuing the conversation
At the summit, Sopra Steria and Oracle invited senior policing leaders to share their perspectives on the opportunities, challenges and priorities facing the sector.
The insights gathered will help build a clearer picture of where policing leaders see the greatest opportunities for data, innovation and technology to make a meaningful difference, and help inform the conversations that come next.
Come back soon to discover what policing leaders told us and the key insights emerging from the research.