Business & Technology
UK police call for better tech after survey backlash
Police officers and staff across the UK have called for better integrated IT systems, improved training and greater user input after a national survey found widespread dissatisfaction with police technology. The findings are based on responses from 8,081 people across forces.
More than half of police officers up to the rank of Chief Inspector were dissatisfied with the digital, data and technology provided by their forces. Among senior officers, dissatisfaction rose to 64%. Among staff, 50% were satisfied and 37% dissatisfied, leaving overall dissatisfaction across all respondents at 49%.
The survey, carried out by Policing Insight with support from a steering group including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Police Federation of England and Wales, the Home Office and the Police Digital Service, points to persistent concerns about fragmented systems, poor integration and weak support.
Only 16% of respondents said the police systems they use are well integrated. A quarter said they receive high-quality training that is timely, beneficial and ongoing. Meanwhile, 40% said the main operational systems they rely on are efficient and effective, and 39% said those systems are easy to use.
Some measures were more positive. Overall satisfaction had improved since a previous survey in 2018, while 61% of users were satisfied with the range and quality of devices provided by forces and 59% said they were always able to access police operating systems.
User frustration
Beyond the headline figures, respondents submitted more than 35,000 comments describing their day-to-day experience with police technology. They highlighted duplicated work, unreliable systems and poor support, particularly for officers and staff working around the clock.
Many said they were forced to enter the same information into multiple systems that do not communicate properly. Others described technology that was difficult to use, badly designed or introduced without enough consultation with the people expected to rely on it in operational roles.
The report linked those problems to wider effects on morale and performance, citing concerns about the impact of failing or poorly connected systems on investigations, intelligence sharing and, in some cases, judicial outcomes.
Some comments also referred to mental health and wellbeing, with accounts of colleagues being reduced to tears, taking sickness absence or leaving policing altogether because of frustration with the systems they were required to use.
A passage in the report states: “The key issues highlighted by 8,081 UK police officers and staff are a combination of fragmented and often outdated technology, poor process design, and insufficient investment.
“Those concerns are compounded by significant struggles around interoperability, a lack of user-centred design, weak governance, and minimal learning and support.
“All of which contributes to damaging workforce wellbeing and morale, limitations on the ability of officers and staff to do a good job, and in some instances a worrying potential impact on judicial outcomes.”
Calls for change
Respondents called for greater national standardisation of systems across policing, as well as more involvement from front-line users in design and development. The findings suggest many officers and staff do not see current systems as reflecting the realities of police work.
Chief Constable Rob Carden, NPCC lead for digital, data and technology, acknowledged the findings in the report. “I know that officers and staff are too often hampered by technical barriers. As highlighted throughout this report, the digital provisions we have in place make it difficult to share intelligence, limit collaboration and in some circumstances, slow investigations.
“We are working hard to remove those barriers, with significant work taking place in the background to address the issues highlighted throughout this report… Please rest assured that the issues highlighted have been heard, and will be recorded and acted upon as a priority.”
Simon Kempton, National Board member at the Police Federation of England and Wales, said the findings reflected repeated concerns rather than isolated complaints.
“The experiences described throughout this report are not isolated complaints or resistance to change. They are consistent themes repeated by thousands of respondents across forces and roles.
“Officers describe spending excessive time duplicating information across systems that do not communicate properly. Staff describe inefficient processes and unreliable workflows. Many speak openly about the stress created by systems that add complexity to already pressured environments.
“The message from officers and staff is clear. They want systems that are reliable, integrated, intuitive and genuinely supportive of the job they do. They want better training, better support and a stronger voice in shaping the technology they use.
“Above all, they want digital systems that help them serve the public effectively rather than placing further obstacles in their way.”
Jayden, 13 launched Jay’s Bakes from his home in Taunton Road in Bicester on Saturday, June 20.
His late nan, a keen baker herself, was the inspiration behind his passion, as well as time spent helping his uncle with his catering business.
Over the last 18 months he has honed his skills by preparing sweat treats every day after school.
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Determined to turn his hobby into something more, Jayden spent two and a half months researching requirements, gaining his Level 2 food hygiene certificate and officially registering his business, mostly without adult intervention.
After four days of preparation, the business officially launched.
Customers were treated to a wide selection of homemade goods, including M&M cookies, Kinder brownies, Biscoff cookies, Victoria sponge trays, lemon drizzle cups and viral ‘dot cakes’.
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His Kinder brownies proved particularly popular, and by the end of the day he had sold out of everything, taking £210.
Despite feeling “excited and a bit nervous” beforehand, Jayden said the opening was a success, with a strong turnout and positive feedback shared on social media.
His favourite moment came when he officially opened the shed by cutting the ribbon.
Supported by his mum, stepdad, grandparents and uncle, Jayden first began selling from a table in May before building and painting his now-signature blue cake shed.
He now plans to continue baking and selling regularly, bringing his creations to the local community.
Lidl has been given planning permission to build its ninth supermarket in Oxfordshire, despite concerns over flooding.
Aldi opened in Didcot in 2015 and has a supermarket at the Jubilee Way roundabout but shoppers in the town have had to wait over a decade for Lidl to follow.
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South Oxfordshire District Council has now backed plans by the German retailer for a new supermarket in Abingdon Road.
Former Didcot mayor Mocky Khan said: “This give the residents of Didcot more choice, especially when you consider the cost of living environment we have at the moment.
“The town is growing with more new homes being built, and with more growth it’s good to have a wide variety of supermarkets to fit all budgets,”
The plans for the new supermarket were first submitted in 2024.
Didcot Town Council previously objected to the scheme, on the grounds of a lack of flood risk mitigation measures, along with the county council who said there was “insufficient information”.
The town council noted there are “several flooding incidents in the area, especially when the Marsh Bridge water pumps fail”.
But in a report by planning officers granting permission to the supermarket, those issues have now been addressed by Lidl.
The officers said the proposals “largely accord” with the policies around planning, and more can be done to “break up” the car park with greenery.
Planning officers chose to let Lidl build the new supermarket subject to conditions.
They said in a report: “Balanced against this policy conflict is the fact that this is a previously developed site, which is currently in a dilapidated state.
“The proposals represent a significant improvement on the current underutilisation of the site and on its appearance.
“The National Planning Policy Framework and Local Plan set out significant support for the reuse of previously developed land.
“As stated in the applicant’s planning statement, there have been previous enquiries as to the redevelopment of the site that have not come to fruition.
“Given this, finding a viable use for the site is a clear benefit which I consider to be of substantial benefit.”
Thirty-four residents had objected to Lidl’s plans, highlighting concerns over extra traffic, there being no need for another supermarket in the town and there being more appropriate locations to build in their view.
Didcot already has an Aldi store just off Broadway and a Sainsbury’s, M&S Foodhall and Asda.
The nearest Lidl to the proposed site are in Lupton Road, Wallingford, and Marcham Road in Abingdon.
Three people wrote in to support the new Lidl, recognising the benefits of a discount food store and the further jobs it will create.
Lidl has said its proposals for a Didcot supermarket would deliver 40 full-time equivalent jobs as well as further employment during the construction phase.
No opening date was given by the retailer, while the developer is currently on site progressing with the enabling works.
A spokesman said: “We’ve seen demand for our affordable, high-quality products continue to rise in Oxfordshire, and we are committed to serving more communities in the area.
“Our new store will create around 40 new jobs and build on our continued growth.
“We’re excited to be a step closer to opening this store and thank everyone who has supported us on our journey so far.”
It also said the £12m investment would work with the 6,300 new homes allocated to be built, as per the local plan.
Dalcour Maclaren, a specialist in utilities and infrastructure, announced the news on June 22, following a detailed assessment of its operations, including governance, employee wellbeing, environmental impact, and social responsibility.
James Neil, CEO of Dalcour Maclaren, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Dalcour Maclaren.
“B Corp status gives us the official badge that recognises everything that matters most to us in our culture, our values, and how we make decisions for our people and our clients. We thrive on doing things differently at DM and B Corp absolutely endorses this.”
The certification means the company meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
Dalcour Maclaren now joins more than 10,000 B Corps worldwide and over 2,600 in the UK, including well-known names such as The Guardian, Innocent Drinks, Patagonia, and The Big Issue.
Chris Turner, CEO of B Lab UK, said: “Welcoming Dalcour Maclaren to the B Corp community is hugely exciting. Its commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and will help spread the notion that success in business is as much about people and planet as it is profit.”
Dalcour Maclaren operates across the UK and Ireland, supporting major projects in energy, water, transport, and digital infrastructure. The company’s services include land, planning, environment, stakeholder engagement, and geospatial services.
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