Police Risk ‘worse service’ Without AI Adoption, says Police AI Director Ahead of Worcester Conference

Policing will become more expensive and deliver a worse service if it does not embrace responsible AI, says Police AI Director Alex Murray OBE ahead of a conference in Worcester.

Alex, currently seconded to the College of Policing as Director of AI, will deliver a keynote address at the annual Evidence-Based Policing Conference at the University of Worcester on Friday 26 June.

The conference will examine both the challenges posed by criminals using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, and the opportunities these tools offer to law enforcement.

Titled Into the Digital Age: The Increasing Use of Technology in Crime, the conference will bring together experts from the University of Worcester in areas such as media and cybercrime, alongside guest speakers from West Mercia Police.

Speaking ahead of the event, Alex said: "The rate of change around AI is only increasing; it will never be as slow as it is today. Criminals are rapidly adopting AI, and if we're going to counter that, we need a mature understanding of it."

He added: "This is an area often shaped by opinion and ideology, but what we need is an evidence-based understanding of what actually works."

During his keynote, Alex will speak about how police are currently using AI, how they should use it in the future, and the challenges that come with that.

He will also highlight the growing importance of leadership in this space, particularly the need to understand how to manage both human and AI-driven ('agentic') workforces.

"Technology is no longer an enabler of crime, it is a cause," he said. "The barrier to entry has never been lower, with the capability to commit crime now being at people's fingertips. Where you once needed significant technical skill, you just need interest."

Alex continued: "If I can build an application just by prompting, then so can a criminal."

"I'm not a doom-monger, but policing does need to be prepared to respond to rapid technological change," he added. "That means thinking differently, and increasingly looking to become 'AI-first' in how we approach both operational and organisational challenges."

Angi Hart, Lecturer in Policing and conference organiser, said: "We're incredibly proud to welcome Alex Murray OBE to this year's conference. He is one of the most senior and influential voices shaping the future of policing in the UK today."

She added: "His work at the National Crime Agency and the College of Policing places him right at the centre of how policing is responding to the rapid rise of technologies like AI. Opportunities to hear directly from someone at that level are rare, and his keynote will be a major highlight of the day."

Tickets for the full day conference are £20 and booking is essential. Book your place on the University of Worcester website.

For information on courses at University of Worcester visit https://www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email [email protected]