Policing Reimagined

Policing Reimagined

At the recent ANZPAA Police Conference PC24, the theme Policing Reimagined encouraged delegates to rethink public safety through a holistic lens, tackling the root causes of crime while fostering stronger, more connected communities. While technology like AI and data analytics continues to play a pivotal role, the conference emphasised that true transformation lies in reimagining how law enforcement engages with communities, builds trust, and prioritises equity and systemic reform. 

Discussions explored innovative training methods, mental health support, and community-led and community-centred public safety initiatives, highlighting how cultural, policy, and governance shifts can enhance public trust and create safer, more resilient communities by addressing crime at its roots rather than relying solely on traditional policing methods.

A common theme over the two days showed how scalability can be a critical success factor for any new police initiative, as starting small often paved the way for broader success. Implementing pilot projects focusing on addressing specific localised challenges, has allowed police to test ideas in a controlled environment, refining strategies and measuring outcomes before expanding them more widely across their jurisdiction. This proof-of-concept approach allows for the identification of best practices, potential pitfalls, and resource needs on a smaller scale, building leadership confidence and buy-in into the project’s feasibility. Early successes also have provided police with tangible evidence to secure broader community buy-in, leadership support, and funding for expansion. 

Scalability & Technology

Superintendent Mark Donaldson from New Zealand Police provided evidence of the efficacy of scalability in his presentation on New Zealand Police’s Digital Notebook - a modern intelligence, evidence, and investigative tool designed to enhance collaboration and efficiency across the organisation. This iPhone app enables officers to capture information and evidence, including duties, interviews, observations, and decisions, while creating detailed timelines of events. Complemented by the Digital Notebook Office for desktops, approved users can search, view, and export entries for purposes like court proceedings. Piloted in early 2023 with 65 staff in New Zealand’s Central District, the tool was rolled out nationwide from September 2023 to March 2024, with the public increasingly seeing officers use phones to document interactions.

Family Violence Tools

The Screen Assessment for Stalking and Harassment Tool (SASH) pilot, developed by Victoria Police has improved police understanding of stalking behaviours and the impact on victims, enabling police to develop a case management approach focused on victims. At PC24 Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway shared insights from the SASH pilot, noting that an effective model must prioritise victim advocacy. She emphasised the overlap between family violence and other crime themes and the significant mental health challenges faced by offenders underscores the need for multi-agency collaboration. 

Data driven policing

Police also gather vast amounts of valuable intelligence in the course of their work, from crime reports and interviews to observations and community interactions. This wealth of information, when effectively analysed and shared, becomes a powerful tool for preventing and solving crime. By leveraging data through advanced analytics, pattern recognition, and collaboration across agencies, police have been able to identify emerging threats, disrupt criminal networks, and allocate resources more strategically. Proactively using this intelligence has helped police to not only solve cases but also strengthen community trust by demonstrating a commitment to targeted, effective, and informed policing practices. 

Facial Recognition Technology: An International Case Study

Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Townsend from the Metropolitan Police reported that last year, facial recognition technology (FRT) helped identify 32 murderers, 93 sex offenders (including 21 rapists), and 271 individuals involved in grievous bodily harm. The Met’s use of FRT—including live, retrospective, and operator-initiated systems—demonstrates how this technology enables faster and more accurate suspect identification across a range of crimes. When deployed during operations, live FRT is targeted, intelligence-led, time-bound, and limited to specific geographic areas. Around 15,000 individuals are typically included on a watchlist for such operations, and biometric data taken of scanned individuals not on the list is not stored. A robust legal framework in the UK ensures FRT use is strictly for policing purposes and remains necessary, proportionate, and fair.

Science-led Police Service

Two representatives from the United Kingdom (UK) Office of the Police Scientific Adviser, Dr. Carolyn Lovell and Brendan Gilmour, provided an insightful overview of efforts to integrate science into policing practices to enhance public safety. Their approach includes identifying key areas of research interest and developing a "policing problem book" to align research initiatives with practical policing needs. By maintaining a robust innovation portfolio that tests hypotheses, mitigates risks, and identifies optimal solutions for complex challenges, they have demonstrated the value of integrating science and technology into policing strategies. This was demonstrated with an example of talking though how science can be applied to better equip a ‘future officer’ for the evolving physical and technological environment.

Responsible Use of AI by Law Enforcement

It is acknowledged that AI presents both significant opportunities but also threats to law enforcement. This panel session explored the current approach to investing in and applying AI technology. With experts from both research, Janis Dalins and Campbell Wilson from AiLECS and operational law enforcement, Ben Lamont, Australian Federal Police, this discussion emphasized the importance of partnerships and modernisation of legislative frameworks to truly ensure responsible use of this technology. Some insightful questions from the audience, led the panel to talk about attracting and retaining staff with specialist skills, and the responsibility to educate policing on the ethical use and training in AI literacy.

The application of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy

Detective Senior Sargeant Danny Gillan and Detective Brevet Sargeant Adrian Moulds presented an extraordinary investigation that led to the unmasking the ‘Bicycle Bandit’, a bank robber in South Australia, so called after his preferred mode of transport leaving the scenes. He committed 11 bank robberies spanning 10 years, with the last occurring in 2014. Using the DNA from blood left at one of the scenes in 2008, investigators applied Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) techniques to the case. This identified a match with a 3rd cousin from Kentucky, USA and by investigating and analysing the family trees, then identified the suspect. A very considered plan was executed to confirm the suspect, conduct the interviews, searches and resolution of this incredible case.

Social Media reducing fear of crime

Here in Australia, Detective Acting Senior Sergeant David Graham, Jessica Hnidec & Dr Erin Hurley discussed how the Queensland Police Service (QPS) Digital Intelligence and Community Engagement (DICE) team is targeting offenders who livestream or post their crimes online, using advanced social media monitoring to identify offenders and victims. The team have aided QPS apprehensions and prosecutions by providing enhanced identification of offenders engaging in criminal activity. Their social media team also shares vital safety information on community social media pages during disasters, supports crime prevention efforts and combats misinformation spreading within the community.

Policing Challenges: Retention, Mental Health, and Indigenous Representation

We heard from Police Commissioners’ about the challenges they face retaining police members. While pay is always an incentive to remain, officers join police to do police work. Police are highly trained and skilled across a range of areas, however a vast majority of frontline officers are not trained mental health professionals able to deliver the level of care required to someone suffering an acute mental health crisis. Alternative models of responding to (non-violent) mental health crises will not only drive down demand for policing services, and ensure the best outcomes for the people in crisis but will allow police officers to undertake core police work in other areas of critical concern.

Recruiting and retaining Indigenous members remains a significant challenge, alongside the broader issue of combating systemic racism across all large institutions. Northern Territory Police (NTP) Acting Sergeant David Miles spoke about the importance of addressing these issues, and the NTP anti-racism strategy which has an initial goal of achieving 30% Aboriginal representation within the force. Other NTP initiatives include implementing Aboriginal language speakers in the emergency command centre. However, a lack of cultural awareness and the additional pressures placed on Aboriginal staff, contribute to burnout and impacts retention, highlighting the need for culturally safe workplaces to combat feelings of isolation.

Social Cohesion 

Social cohesion emerged as a significant concern at the federal level, with issues such as diminishing trust in institutions, a lack of tolerance, increasing political polarisation, and the normalisation of extreme behaviour. In a panel discussion on police responses to protests, Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett APM from the Australian Federal Police spoke to the growing complexity of the threat landscape and the rise of extremism. An effective response was the Police Commissioners’ joint statement prior to the one year anniversary of the October 7 attacks. As a result of this, efforts to engage with media and protest organisers led to a noticeable decrease in the display of hate symbols, highlighting the effectiveness of a coordinated national approach.

More information on the ANZPAA Police Conference.

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