AI home monitoring, smell detectors and new transcription tools are among the tech projects under consideration for pilots by the Ministry of Justice.
A total of seven tech firms have presented pitches to Prisons and Probation’s Minister James Timpson as part of a Ministry of Justice scheme to incorporate new tech into criminal management.
The programme follows the Independent Sentencing Review in May, which recommended the greater use of technology and community sentencing to tackle issues in the prison system.
In the recent Spending Review, the government granted the Probation Service a £700m funding boost as part of its goal to use technology to ease existing burdens on one of the most over-stretched public services.
Over 90 submissions were initially made, with the seven finalists including Netcompany, an AI system for managing offenders integrating into communities, Espanaro, an autonomous offender monitoring system and Accenture, the global professional services group that is pitching a biotechnology-based drug detection system.
Successful pitches will result in the proposals being considered for pilot rollouts from the Ministry of Justice.
“We inherited a justice system in crisis and in need of reform. Prisons and probation are working in analogue while tech drives forward a new digital age,” said Timpson.
“That’s why we have invited companies to present bold new ideas to help us deliver tough punishment and enhanced surveillance.
“Embracing new technologies will help us to protect victims, reduce reoffending and cut crime as part of our Plan for Change.”
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