National Police Chiefs' Council Innovation and Digital Awards 2025

Taking place between 20-22 October at the ACC Liverpool, the NPCC Innovation and Digital summit is being jointly hosted by the NPCC Digital, Data and Technology and Science and Innovation Coordination Committees, in close collaboration with the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser and the Police Digital Service.

This landmark event is a unique opportunity to bring together policing and industry, build connections and facilitate conversation on what the future might look like for policing. In shining a spotlight on some of the collaborative work already taking place to transform our service, the NPCC Innovation and Digital Awards 2025 will form a key part of this summit.

With entries from forces across the UK, the judging panel has included representatives from the National Police Chiefs’ Council Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee, Science and Innovation Coordination Committee, the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser, Police Digital Service and TechUK.

In advance of the event, we are delighted to share details on each award category, and the forces/individuals who have made the shortlist, with a brief summary of their nomination (where possible):

Collaboration in the furthering of Digital. Data, Science and Technology

• Essex Police: Digital, multi agency approach to fraud innovation
• Eastern Region Innovation Network
• Cumbria Constabulary, Andy Petty 

Excellence in Productivity & Value for Money

• West Midlands Police: Investigation Quality Assurance Automation
• Metropolitan Police Service: My CJ Power app
• Metropolitan Police Service and Capgemini Invent: Building a generative AI Freedom of Information tool 
• Avon & Somerset Constabulary - Assure, a quality assurance application for Call Handlers

Innovation in Embedding Science, Technology, or Digital Solutions to Front Line Policing

• Operation Soteria: Digital National Operating Model progressive web application for Rape & Serious Sexual Offences investigations
• South Wales Constabulary: Creation and implementation of Operator initiated Facial Recognition in front line policing
• Greater Manchester Police: Greater Manchester Police Automation Team

Excellence in Training, Talent & Development in Digital, Data, Science & Technology

• Devon & Cornwall Police: Police Major Incident Training
• Cheshire Constabulary: "How To" Training Platform
• West Yorkshire Police: Data Discovery Centre

Excellence in Cyber Security

• Surrey Police & Sussex Police: Security & Information Assurance Team
• Cheshire Constabulary IT Security Team: Securing Active Directory
• Thames Valley Police & Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary: Phishing Simulation Tool

Enabling Diversity & Inclusion in Science & Technology

• Thames Valley Police & Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary: Creation of a Woman in Technology initiative
• Thames Valley Police & Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary: Joint ICT People Strategy

Digital, Data, Science and Technology Ambassador

• Michael Edkins, Devon & Cornwall Police
• Fintan Foley, Essex Police
• Laura Bray, Greater Manchester Police
• Facial Recognition Team, South Wales Police
• Will Hughes, Lincolnshire Police

Excellence in Science & Technology Leadership

• Digital Data & Technology Team, South Yorkshire Police
• Hitesh Lad, West Yorkshire Police
• Lee Milton, National Police Chiefs' Council
• Jenna Thomas, National Police Chiefs' Council
• Dougie Henderson, Greater Manchester Police.

Chief Constable Rob Carden, NPCC Lead for Digital, Data and Technology, said:

As we work to modernise policing, it is imperative we have the consent and support of those most impacted, and that includes our workforce.

I am delighted to see so much work taking place across the country to reinvigorate our service and enhance public safety, using the technology available to us and embracing it as an opportunity, not a threat.

Congratulations to each and every person who has nominated or been nominated as part of this prestigious event. Your work and dedication to the development of a police service that is fit for the future does not go unnoticed, and I hope these awards demonstrate that.

Sincerely, thank you.

Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan, NPCC Lead for Science and Innovation, said:

The NPCC Innovation and Digital Summit Awards celebrate the creativity and dedication driving modern policing forward.

Across the country, officers and staff are using science, technology and new ways of thinking to solve complex problems and deliver better outcomes for the public.

By recognising this work, we not only showcase the best of policing innovation but also inspire others to explore new ideas, embrace evidence, and continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Winners will be announced on the evening of Tuesday 21 October, at the ACC Liverpool.

You can find out more about the NPCC Innovation and Digital summit, here.

You can find out more about the work taking place to modernise policing, here.