Follow the AI money through AI policing programs30 Dec 2025 08:58
Key Funding Details for 2026/27
Overall Police Funding: The provisional police funding settlement for the financial year 2026/27 provides total funding to territorial police forces in England and Wales of up to £18.3 billion, a cash increase of 4.2% compared to the previous year.
Technology Funding: The specific central government fund for productivity and new technology projects, including AI, has been significantly reduced from £105 million in 2024/25 to an estimated £50 million in 2025/26, and this specific funding stream was discontinued from the 2026/27 financial year, meaning forces have to rely on their general budgets for most tech investments.
Wider Government Investment: The government has allocated a separate, cross-departmental £2 billion fund for general AI development and infrastructure across public services over the Spending Review period until 2029/30, some of which may benefit policing indirectly through national programs.
Funding Challenges: Forces spend the vast majority of their IT budgets (around 97%) on maintaining existing legacy systems, leaving minimal flexibility (approximately £60 million nationally) for innovation and new technology development across all forces. This makes dedicated AI investment at the local level difficult without making cuts elsewhere.
Future Plans: A Police Reform White Paper is expected in early 2026, which will likely set out a vision for modern policing with a focus on the technology, innovation, and structures needed to drive efficiency.
AI in Policing: Status
Despite the lack of a dedicated central budget, police forces are adopting AI technologies, such as data analytics, automated number plate recognition (ANPR), and digital forensics platforms, to improve efficiency and free up officer time. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has published the National Policing Digital Strategy 2025-2030 to guide investment decisions, and many Chief Constables have signed the AI Covenant, which sets out ethical principles for AI use.
Forces can also apply for specific funds like the Police Science and Technology Applied Research (STAR) Fund, which has supported various projects, including those involving AI.
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