Policing | Read the latest blogs, news and views from Infomentum.

Bobbi has officially arrived in South Yorkshire. This October, South Yorkshire Police launched Bobbi, a new 24/7 agentic solution designed to help around 1.4 million people access policing information and support online. Infomentum has been proud to work alongside the force to deploy Bobbi and bring the new service to life, marking an exciting milestone for everyone involved.

A once-in-a-generation opportunity for policing - but reform has to be about more than structures.

Today HMICFRS published its State of Policing 2025–26 report, describing police reform as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the service provided to the public, and it’s difficult to argue with much of the sentiment.

When we talk about digital accessibility, the conversation often begins and ends with websites: screen-reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, colour contrast and alternative text.

These things are essential, but in the public sector, accessibility must go much further.

Policing organisations operate in one of the most demanding service environments in the public sector. IT services are mission-critical - any disruption, however small, can have a direct impact on frontline effectiveness.

At Infomentum, we’ve seen first-hand how IT Service Management (ITSM) functions within policing are under constant pressure. High volumes of requests - many of them low complexity - create a persistent challenge: how to maintain service quality while enabling IT teams to focus on more strategic priorities.

From my own experience as a senior police leader, the impact of this is very real.

Last night’s Digital Revolution Awards brought together organisations tackling real, practical challenges with technology. For our team, it was a brilliant evening to be part of.

It was great to reconnect with familiar faces, meet some new ones, and see first-hand the impact being made across so many different sectors. Moments like that are a good reminder of how much meaningful work is happening in this space.

And while we’ll try to stay modest about it… it made the night all the more special to be named winners of the ‘Excellence in Salesforce’ award for 2026!

Introducing AI-driven solutions like Agentforce into UK policing is not a decision to take lightly. These powerful technologies have the potential to completely transform the way forces operate, from back-office efficiency through to frontline support. But with this power also comes new risks, particularly in how sensitive personal data is processed, stored, and interpreted. While these risks are real, the potential to deliver faster, fairer, and more effective policing outcomes makes their careful navigation worthwhile.

In an environment governed by high standards of public accountability, ethical scrutiny, and strict legal obligations under the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and Law Enforcement Processing provisions, a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is not just a formality - it's essential. It provides a defensible framework for making informed decisions, protecting officers and the public alike.

The British model of policing has always rested on a delicate balance: local accountability, national legitimacy, and public consent. The Government’s proposal to create a National Police Service is the most radical attempt in a generation to rebalance that system for a digital age.

Having witnessed three decades of change in the police service, and as a retired senior officer, at first glance, the Home Office’s White Paper, From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, is about structures - fewer forces, clearer leadership, stronger central coordination.

When people reach out to the police, it’s often at a moment of vulnerability, when something has happened that has shaken their sense of safety and left them unsure what to do next. They may feel anxious, overwhelmed, or uncertain about whether they are using the right channel, sharing the right information, or even raising the right issue at all. At the same time, forces are managing rising volumes of calls, messages, and digital contact under sustained pressure, yet every interaction still represents a person looking for reassurance and support. Meeting these moments in a way that feels timely, confident, and compassionate has become one of the most important challenges facing UK policing today.

But a more supportive, intelligent approach is beginning to take shape.

This year’s HMICFRS State of Policing Report, published in September, raises several important issues that caught my attention. For those who haven't caught up yet, the report highlights the significant pressure forces continue to operate under, with growing demand and legacy systems limiting their ability to respond effectively.

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.