A key question for the Authority is how can Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority embrace new and emerging technology while building confidence in policing?

The pace of technology and innovation have accelerated over the last 5 years, criminals are using technology in more advanced ways, they are able to avoid and evade technology in different ways and fundamentally Police Scotland need to keep pace with this.

In the adoption of new technology in policing, I believe the Scottish Police Authority has a key role to provide robust and transparent scrutiny of proposals in the public domain as much as possible. It should also step into a space to advocate for the use of new technology in Policing to both internal and external stakeholders, including the public, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland (HMICS), Information Commissioners Office, Scottish Government, and the Biometrics Commissioner.

What we are absolutely clear on is the governance and the approach adopted to make decisions on the introduction or roll out of technology which are transparent, proportionate, and justifiable and have taken into account a range of sources of evidence with human rights and the policing values as a key consideration.

The February 2023 report from the Emerging Technologies Independent Advisory Group on New and Emerging Technology in Policing reached the same conclusions that the Authority has considered, concluding that ‘There is a need for evidence-based innovation and facilitation of technological adoption in policing, but ensuring this is legal, ethical and subject to effective oversight is central to public confidence and upholding people’s rights.’

It is with this in mind that the Authority has sought to adopt the ‘proportionality principle’ in approaching the challenge of uncertainty when considering a public interest assessment of a proposed new technology or deployment.

Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority, through the personal commitments of the Chief Constable and Chair, have published a memorandum of understanding that outlines the principles through which decision making and engagement will be conducted to ensure the principles of policing by consent are safeguarded. This includes any decisions on the introduction of new and emerging technology.

In justifying decisions and making them explainable, the policing system must be able to demonstrate that it has taken into account legal, ethical and human rights considerations in arriving at those decisions, balancing the rights of the individual with the need to protect all citizens in their communities.

It is this balance that must be judged in taking forward proposals for the adoption of new technologies that assist policing in its primary function of ensuring safety and wellbeing.