Forget the traditional 'ello, 'ello, 'ello – policing in the UK is entering a new era with the introduction of its first artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant. Dubbed 'Bobbi', this innovative tool is now being trialled by two major police forces in a landmark move for law enforcement technology.
A New Digital Bobby on the Beat
Thames Valley Police and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have jointly launched the pilot scheme for the UK's first AI police virtual assistant. The system, named Bobbi, is designed to interact with the public in a human-like manner, answering frequently asked questions that are not related to emergencies. The forces have been quick to emphasise that this technology is intended to complement existing services like online forms, phone lines, and front-desk counters, not to replace them entirely.
A official spokesperson for the forces explicitly stated: "You cannot use the technology to report a crime or as an alternative to the emergency 999 line." This ensures that critical emergency channels remain unimpeded by the new technology.
Rigorous Testing and Human Oversight
The development of the AI police assistant involved extensive testing with over 200 individuals. This group included representatives from victim care organisations and independent scrutiny panels, ensuring the tool was vetted for public use.
Bobbi operates using the same official guidelines and information that are provided to human call handlers, allowing it to offer consistent suggestions and recommendations. A key feature of the system is its built-in fail-safe: if Bobbi is unable to answer a user's question, or if the user simply prefers to speak to a real person, the conversation is automatically redirected to a live operator without delay.
Freeing Up Officers for Critical Work
Chief Superintendent Simon Dodds, who is involved in the pilot, described the trial as a "really exciting time" for the forces. He expressed his hope that by handling routine, non-urgent inquiries, Bobbi will allow police staff to dedicate more focus to emergencies and complex, sensitive issues.
Mr Dodds highlighted the irreplaceable value of human skills in policing, noting: "Empathy, common sense and that intangible gut instinct are some of the many human skills that need to guide our interactions with the public, particularly in their time of need."
He added that by providing quick responses to common questions, Bobbi will enhance the overall service to communities, ensuring the public receives help efficiently. However, he also stressed that Bobbi remains a work in progress, with a dedicated team of experienced staff working to fix any bugs and ensure the system complies with all relevant regulations.
