A Derbyshire Police officer has been removed from frontline duties after a criminal investigation was launched into allegations they used artificial intelligence to "create evidential material in a number of cases." The force said the officer is suspected of perverting the course of justice, though no arrests have been made.
The investigation, which police described as being in its early stages, has prompted the Crown Prosecution Service to work with Derbyshire Police and engage with defence teams and courts in potentially affected cases. A CPS spokesperson said: "We are working with Derbyshire Constabulary as it conducts enquiries into the alleged use of Artificial Intelligence by an officer. We are engaging with defence teams and the courts in appropriate cases."
“Police launch criminal investigation into Derbyshire officer accused of using AI to fabricate evidence in multiple cases.”
The unnamed officer has been removed from frontline duties pending the outcome of the inquiry, Derbyshire Police confirmed. In a statement, the force said: "A criminal investigation has been launched into an allegation of perverting the course of justice after the alleged use of AI systems by an officer to create evidential material in a number of cases. The force is working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to any potentially impacted cases, however, the investigation is in its early stages, so no further details are available."
The news comes in the same week that PoliceAI, a new national centre for AI in policing, was established. At its launch on Wednesday, interim director Alex Murray said: "Crime and technology are evolving rapidly. Policing must keep pace by adopting AI responsibly to catch criminals and keep people safe." The contrast between the force's stated ambition for responsible AI and the investigation into an officer accused of misusing the technology could not be starker.