Using digital innovations and AI solutions to save money is one of the key aims for States of Jersey Police in the next few years.
SOJP and the Jersey Police Authority have published the latest policing plan, covering 2025-2028.
It outlines five key aims for the next four years.
- Keeping people safe
- Problem solving policing
- Our people, our culture
- Prevent crime and bring offenders to justice
- Provide value for money
The plan looks at how to maintain Jersey as a safe and secure place and measures how each objective will be achieved.
That is against the backdrop of budget constraints, with the annual government allocation available to SOJP largely unchanged for the next four years at around £30m.
Jersey Police Authority has previously expressed concerns about the growing demands on the force despite a 'static' budget.
In his foreword, Chief of Police Robin Smith says he his committed to delivering value for money.
"Determined to drive out waste, we have carefully examined the demand for our services and its source, to better understand how we manage this moving forward, in a changing economic landscape."
His says embracing new ways of doing things will be key to working within financial limitations:
"Appreciating that technology and digital innovation is core to delivering efficiencies, this plan will explore further opportunities in 2025 and beyond.
"...SoJP have also embarked on the limited introduction of AI, which will be a key focus in 2025, ensuring ethics and robust governance are at the heart of our journey."
Expanding on its plans for AI-use, the policing plan says:
"We will embed current Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects, including Transcription Services, and scope further AI opportunities (e.g. Translation Services and vetting)"
Jersey Police launched a new website in 2024, and this will be further developed.
"We will explore and further enhance the Force Website online self-service capabilities, e.g. (an online portal for individuals to securely access their personal data held by SOJP (convictions)."
To make required savings, SOJP will cut 4.7 FTE posts, 2 in 2025 and 2.7 in 2026. In addition, the Digital Forensics Unit growth bid has been reduced by £47,000.
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