FOI 266818
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 266818
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 28th July 2023. Please find below the response to your request:
I’m writing a piece on the usage of ChatGPT in the field of Digital Forensic Investigation for a Master’s Research Project and want to know where Police Departments currently stand on the usage of AI models within the field, how AI is currently used and the potential of future usage, as such the following questions will aim to understand whether ChatGPT has a place in the field as a toolkit investigators.
1) Does your Constabulary have a Digital Forensics Department?
2) How are AI systems integrated into the daily operations of the police station? Are they used for crime prevention, investigation, or other purposes?
3) What plans does the police station have for the future use of AI in their operations, and how do they envision the technology evolving?
4) Are there any concerns or reservations about implementing chatbots in the context of policing activities, such as privacy or data security concerns?
5) Are there any specific guidelines or policies governing the use of AI by the police station, and are they publicly available?
6) Is there any ongoing research or evaluation of AI chatbot technology to determine its potential benefits for the police department?
7) Are there any other AI-powered solutions or technologies the department is considering for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of police operations?
8) Have there been any budgetary or resource constraints that have hindered the adoption of AI chatbots?
9) Are there any specific use cases or scenarios where the police department envisions chatbots being beneficial in the future?
10) What steps would need to be taken to ensure that an AI chatbot used by the police department complies with ethical and legal standards, particularly concerning the sensitive nature of policing activities?
11) Would the police department be open to collaborating with external entities, such as technology companies or research institutions, to explore the implementation of AI chatbots in a controlled and secure manner?
Reply
1) Does your Constabulary have a Digital Forensics Department?
Yes
2) How are AI systems integrated into the daily operations of the police station? Are they used for crime prevention, investigation, or other purposes?
West Mercia Police are not currently using any AI systems
3) What plans does the police station have for the future use of AI in their operations, and how do they envision the technology evolving?
Please be advised that this is not a valid request for information under the Freedom of information Act 2000 (“the Act”) as it does not fulfil the requirement of s.8 of the Act. It is not a request for specific recorded information and the authority does not have to answer your questions if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgement that is not already recorded. Please be advised that the Act only extends to requests for recorded information. It does not require public authorities to answer questions generally and does not extend to requests for information about policies or their implementation, or the merits or demerits of any proposal or action unless the answer to any such request is already held in recorded form.
4) Are there any concerns or reservations about implementing chatbots in the context of policing activities, such as privacy or data security concerns?
No information held
5) Are there any specific guidelines or policies governing the use of AI by the police station, and are they publicly available?
No information held
6) Is there any ongoing research or evaluation of AI chatbot technology to determine its potential benefits for the police department?
No information held
7) Are there any other AI-powered solutions or technologies the department is considering for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of police operations?
No information held
8) Have there been any budgetary or resource constraints that have hindered the adoption of AI chatbots?
No information held
9) Are there any specific use cases or scenarios where the police department envisions chatbots being beneficial in the future?
Please be advised that this is not a valid request for information under the Freedom of information Act 2000 (“the Act”) as it does not fulfil the requirement of s.8 of the Act. It is not a request for specific recorded information and the authority does not have to answer your questions if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgement that is not already recorded. Please be advised that the Act only extends to requests for recorded information. It does not require public authorities to answer questions generally and does not extend to requests for information about policies or their implementation, or the merits or demerits of any proposal or action unless the answer to any such request is already held in recorded form.
10) What steps would need to be taken to ensure that an AI chatbot used by the police department complies with ethical and legal standards, particularly concerning the sensitive nature of policing activities?
No information held
11) Would the police department be open to collaborating with external entities, such as technology companies or research institutions, to explore the implementation of AI chatbots in a controlled and secure manner?
Please be advised that this is not a valid request for information under the Freedom of information Act 2000 (“the Act”) as it does not fulfil the requirement of s.8 of the Act. It is not a request for specific recorded information and the authority does not have to answer your questions if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgement that is not already recorded. Please be advised that the Act only extends to requests for recorded information. It does not require public authorities to answer questions generally and does not extend to requests for information about policies or their implementation, or the merits or demerits of any proposal or action unless the answer to any such request is already held in recorded form.