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

What decades on the frontline reveal about system-generated demand, avoidable work, and where meaningful change really starts.

Dr Simon Eccles has spent decades working in A&E as a senior doctor and serving on countless boards across London. He is also a thought leader on the best technology for the NHS, and he sat down with us to discuss ways the NHS can improve its use of Salesforce. With all his years of experience, he has seen winter pressures come and go, targets change, restructurings repeat, and countless workforce initiatives introduced with good intent. His view is not theoretical. It is lived.

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.

Every public sector leader I speak to wants to unlock the promise of artificial intelligence (AI). The ambition is clear: to deliver services faster, give staff back precious time, and improve experiences for citizens. The challenge is that budgets are tight, scrutiny is high, and no one wants to waste money on the wrong investment.

That tension often leads to the question… how much should we actually spend on AI?

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.

The past few weeks at Infomentum HQ have been nothing short of amazing. New projects launched, fresh qualifications earned (more to come on this!), and to top it all off - we’ve been named the winner of a 2025 Salesforce Partner Innovation Award in the Public Sector and Government category. This award celebrates our work with UK police forces to transform victim support through smarter, more connected technology. It’s safe to say the team couldn’t be prouder!

Technology modernisation has become a constant drumbeat across the public sector - and for good reason. The opportunities offered by modern, integrated systems are clear: better data access, streamlined processes, and more responsive public services.

In my most recent article about embracing disruptor technology, I touched on how trust is central to policing, and equally essential to every technology partnership that supports it. The same principle applies here. Without trust, even the most ambitious transformation efforts are unlikely to succeed.

After three decades in policing, including 15 years in senior leadership, I’ve seen first-hand the impact that legacy technology has on frontline delivery. It’s not just about systems that feel outdated or unintuitive. It’s about the deep-rooted inefficiencies and limitations that hold back people who are doing critical public service work.

Imagine a cold December day. The elderly lady had been saving on gas for months to finally heat her home on Christmas Day. Living in her small social flat, she silently endured the chill because she struggled to afford both food and warmth, determined to remain independent.