The Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser commissioned a report to explore seven science and technology (S&T) trends over three-time horizons. The report assesses the implications of these trends, including the potential opportunities for policing and threats from criminal exploitation. 

The pace of technological change continues to accelerate. Previously, technologies such as body-worn cameras, number plate recognition and mobile device extraction methods were considered cutting-edge. Now, policing is working to integrate facial recognition, drones and AI-driven analytics into operational practices. What could we expect to emerge next? 

This report aims to raise awareness and improve knowledge and on a number of S&T trends likely to impact policing over the next 1-10+ years. A better understanding of the drivers and technologies underpinning these S&T trends can support policing to exploit key opportunities in the near term, whilst considering the need to remain adaptable to adopt further developments in the longer term. Emerging technologies can also be misused by criminals and policing should consider how best to prepare for such situations. Staying ahead of the curve will help to ensure that UK policing can operate more efficiently, transparently, and effectively. 

A range of policing as well as technical experts were involved to assess the trends explored in the report. Whilst this work anticipates how several S&T trends are likely to evolve over time; these are not predictions and there is always a degree of uncertainty which should be kept in mind when reading the report.