More forces could turn to artificial intelligence if new rules on accountability get the green light.

An international project including researchers at Sheffield Hallam University is developing an agreed approach to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by policing and security agencies.

A team from the Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence and Organised Crime Research (CENTRIC) at Sheffield Hallam are working with Europol on the AP4AI (Accountability Principles for AI) Project.

Kent, Durham and the Met are among the forces using the technology.

One application has been the mining of thousands of documents such as emails for the Met’s criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire.

But AI hasn’t been picked up on scale by policing as fast as other sectors such as healthcare because of concerns over data bias and its impact on professional judgements.

Through assessing existing practice, interviewing international legal, ethical, security and industry experts, and consulting the wider public across 30 countries, the project will create an AI Accountability Framework that includes key principles of ethics.

Researchers hope their work will enable forces to provide balance and accountability for regulators and assurance to society at large.

It’s similar to the process under way to enable forces to use facial recognition technology – which has already been subject to legal challenge.

One of the rationales behind policing organisations getting involved is that it will free up officers to do more of the preventative work that will be better informed by AI data.

Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol said: “I am confident that the AP4AI Project will offer invaluable practical support to law enforcement, criminal justice and other security practitioners seeking to develop innovative AI solutions, while respecting fundamental rights and being fully accountable to citizens.”