Justice and emergency services reception 2026: event round-up

8 May 2026 03:55 PM

The event provided attendees with an opportunity to explore the upcoming Police Reform and what the transition will mean in practice, including the growing importance of  AI, improved interoperability and stronger cross-sector collaboration can support more effective and joined-up services across the sector.

Opening the event, Sheila Flavell CBE, techUK President, FDM Group, reflected on the continued growth of the Justice and Emergency Services programme and the importance of strong partnerships between industry and the public sector in driving innovation and delivering change across policing, fire and justice.

Alex Murray OBE, Interim Director for Police AI, set out the rapid pace of change in AI and the need for policing to adopt these technologies quickly while maintaining a strong focus on responsibility and public trust. He outlined the importance of clear governance, including a national strategy and registry for AI use, alongside practical delivery approaches that bring tested and trusted tools into the hands of frontline staff.

Following the addresses, the session moved to a panel discussion featuring speakers Tony Blaker QPM, Chief of Staff DDaT CC, Professor Brooke Rogers OBE, Chief Scientific Advisor, Home Office, Sarah Blaker, Deputy Director, Ministry of Justice, Tim Britten, Chief Product Officer, HMCTS, chaired by Dave Evans, Head of Programme, techUK.

Their discussion explored how data can better connect decision making and outcomes across the criminal justice system, with a strong focus on addressing long standing fragmentation and enabling a more joined up, end-to-end view of cases. Panellists reflected on the progress being made to improve interoperability and data sharing across policing and justice, alongside the growing recognition that collaboration across policy, science and frontline services is essential to avoid duplication and maximise impact.

There was also a clear emphasis on the operational pressures facing the system, particularly within the courts, and the role that data and AI can play in improving case readiness and supporting earlier, more effective decisions. It was highlighted that reducing fragmentation and encouraging interoperable systems will only succeed if organisations clearly understand the benefits for them and the wider ecosystem. Across the conversation, the importance of data quality, accessibility and trust was a consistent theme, alongside the need to equip frontline staff with tools that can help them navigate and make sense of increasingly large and complex datasets.

Gillian Fyfe, Strategic Digital, Technology and Cyber Lead, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), reflected on the partnership between techUK and NFCC, and the need to balance ambition with the realities of limited funding, ageing infrastructure and skills shortages across the fire sector. She highlighted new priorities within the sector, including strengthening cyber and digital resilience, improving interoperability and data quality, and establishing a national data capability, while calling on industry to work closely with the sector to design solutions that meet operational needs.

Ollie Shaw, Commander for Fraud and Cybercrime, City of London Police, concluded the speaker programme by reflecting on the need for policing to make more effective use of technology and to build stronger partnerships with industry.

He noted that while tools such as body worn video have been introduced, there is still significant untapped potential, and stressed the importance of aligning technology with processes to deliver meaningful outcomes. He also highlighted the opportunity to embed secure by design approaches to better protect the public against cybercrime and position the UK as a leader in public safety innovation.

The event concluded with a drink’s reception, providing attendees with the opportunity to continue conversations and strengthen connections across the justice and emergency services community. Bringing together stakeholders from across government, frontline services and industry, the reception reinforced its theme of transforming justice and public safety by building a future of trust, innovation and partnership.

techUK plays a central role in driving this agenda forward, convening leaders to challenge thinking, align priorities and accelerate progress. As the pace of change increases, continued collaboration will be essential to turn ambition into delivery and ensure technology drives meaningful, system-wide impact.

The fact that these challenges, from legacy technology to data sharing, clear governance and cross-sector collaboration, are shared across emergency services and justice highlights the importance of techUK’s partnerships with the National Fire Chiefs Council, National Police Chiefs Council and the Police Digital Service. Sustained collaboration across the sector will be vital to overcoming these shared challenges and realising the full potential of modern, data-driven public safety services.