Police Digital Service partners with BCS to overhaul law enforcement IT skills

"The collaboration is designed to tackle the digital skills gap within policing, ensuring that officers and staff are equipped to handle the increasing technological demands of modern crime prevention. The initiative will see the rollout of 470 BCS membership places distributed across all territorial forces, as well as the Police Service Northern Ireland, British Transport Police, the College of Policing, and the National Crime Agency (NCA)."

"The partnership comes as law enforcement agencies face growing pressure to modernize legacy systems and improve data handling capabilities. The PDS stated that the move is directly aligned with the National Policing Digital Strategy 2025-2030, which prioritizes data-driven decision-making and public safety in a digital-first world."

""Digital, data, and technology [are] pivotal to the success of wider police reform. It drives better prevention and detection of crime, increases efficiency, and enhances public safety," Carden said. "I'm delighted to be working with the British Computer Society, ensuring that our people can become more digitally literate, with the skills and knowledge needed to harness technology effectively and responsibly.""

The Police Digital Service has partnered with BCS to standardize and professionalize the technical workforce across UK law enforcement. The initiative targets the policing digital skills gap and will distribute 470 BCS membership places across all territorial forces, Police Service Northern Ireland, British Transport Police, the College of Policing, and the National Crime Agency. The effort aligns with the National Policing Digital Strategy 2025-2030 to prioritize data-driven decision-making and public safety. The program supports modernization of legacy systems and improved data handling. Industry-recognized standards and professional registration pathways such as RITTech and CITP will be introduced to police IT roles. The goal is to increase digital literacy, equip staff to harness technology responsibly, and improve prevention, detection, and operational efficiency.

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