Blog: Delivering purpose-driven IT solutions for UK police forces

As a project manager, I’ve had the privilege of guiding all sorts of teams and initiatives, from complex digital transformations to small but mighty upgrades that make a real difference. But few things have brought me as much career satisfaction as working on IT projects that support the police here in the United Kingdom.

These projects stand out because they’re about more than just delivery timelines, sprint goals, or stakeholder reports. They’re about contributing to something bigger - supporting the people who keep our communities safe, and helping them do their jobs more effectively through better technology.

Turning project plans into public impact.

Every project manager knows the joy of ticking off milestones and hitting those deliverables. But when your project outcome helps improve how the police operate, respond, and protect, those achievements take on a deeper meaning.

Like most government institutions funded by citizen taxes, it is key that those resources are stewarded in the most effective way possible. Everyday citizens, including myself, prior to working on force projects that are not involved in government, would not see the inner workings of that expenditure. It has been refreshing and inspiring to see how those resources are used to maximise citizen wellness, develop secure state infrastructure and also focus on innovative ways to simplify the life of the public. A great example of that innovation was creating ways that citizens could self-service. This self-service meant the public no longer needed to rely on phone call wait times for crime updates, reassuring them that the police are with them on this journey and working to help them.

There’s a real sense of pride in knowing that the systems we implement might help an officer make quicker, more informed decisions, or that a process we’ve streamlined could free up valuable time for the people on the front line. It’s technology with purpose, and that’s incredibly motivating for me and the teams I lead.

Collaboration at its best

Working alongside the police has also given me a new level of respect for the professionalism, resilience, and teamwork that underpin everything they do. This was most evident when working with the technical teams and SMEs within the forces. They have first-hand experience of the challenges the public and police officers face every day, as well as the complexities of the IT systems that support them.

Project management often involves balancing multiple priorities, stakeholders, and expectations. During my time working on policing projects, I’ve found that the police share that same ability to stay calm, focused, and solution-driven under pressure. They display pragmatic problem-solving skills, always thinking about ways to find the best possible solution, but also without losing sight of what could be learnt from a situation.

From initial workshops to late-stage testing, I’ve seen just how committed these teams are to getting things right - not because it’s a project goal, but because real-world outcomes depend on it. Their dedication pushes everyone around them, including us in IT, to raise our game. Where corporates focus on profits and customer satisfaction, the police focus on safety and supporting citizens.

The unique challenge of policing projects

Managing IT projects in the policing environment brings its own set of challenges (and I mean that in the best possible way!). Systems need to meet the highest possible security standards, given the ever-increasing number of cyberattacks facing the United Kingdom. Key services and solutions need to be available to the public with minimum downtime and include resilient fallback procedures with clear and easy restoration of service processes. Data accuracy when handling sensitive topics like crime are non-negotiable, which means attention to detail and collaboration are key to achieving success.

There’s also the human factor: understanding how technology fits into the day-to-day realities of policing. It’s one thing to deliver a system that works; it’s another to deliver one that truly supports the people using it in high-pressure situations. Engaging directly with the people who will use these solutions every day provides invaluable insight into how to tailor our approach, ensuring the technology is genuinely effective and supports their needs. They understand the processes best as the daily users, we understand how specific technologies work as specialists, and this can be combined for the best possible outcome.

A deeper appreciation

Before I started managing projects that support policing, I had enormous respect for the work our officers do, as most people do. But seeing it up close, even from the IT side, has given me an even deeper appreciation. IT solutions can be more than tools for process optimisation or cost reduction, they transcend those definitions when they start to positively impact the lives of people who are at their most vulnerable or low. Those are the projects and outcomes we look back on with the most pride from a career.

It’s been eye-opening to see the complexity of their work, the dedication behind every decision, and the crucial role that technology plays in helping UK police forces protect the public. It’s changed how I think about leadership, teamwork, and the impact of good project delivery.