Record STMT-W5B8558Soft law

Artificial Intelligence in Policing: AI technologies currently used to improve the efficiency and service delivery of police’s corporate or enabling functions

Report Institutional policyOceania · NZin force

This research report provides an evidence-based understanding of current opportunities and challenges for using artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency and service delivery of police corporate and enabling functions across Five Eyes countries. It examines AI technologies used in documentation, audio and video analysis, data integration, and biometrics, alongside call management, community interaction, and recruitment. The report identifies four main operational challenges—performance, integration and governance, data privacy, and internal trust—and outlines strategic opportunities and framework alignments for New Zealand Police.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

New Zealand PoliceGovernment

Lead issuer

Legal forceSoft law

Under whose authorityInstitutional policy

Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

National governmentRegulatorsPublic sector bodiesResearchers and academics

This report is for police leadership, researchers, policymakers, and technology assurance teams seeking an evidence-based overview of artificial intelligence applications and governance challenges in law enforcement.

Sectors

Defence and security · policingPublic administration · police corporate and enabling functionsResearch and science · evidence-based policing research

What the document contains

What's covered

The report covers current and emerging artificial intelligence technologies used by law enforcement in Five Eyes countries to improve internal operational efficiency and outward-facing service delivery. It addresses applications in documentation, audio and video analysis, data integration, biometrics, call management, community interaction, and training. Furthermore, it details specific governance challenges, limitations, privacy risks, and strategic opportunities for the New Zealand Police.

What's missing

The report does not provide binding legislative mandates, enforceable procurement rules, or specific technical source code specifications for commercial AI models.

Key takeaways

AI technologies can perform repetitive and routine law enforcement tasks much faster than humans, saving time and resources for core duties.
The report examines AI applications across seven business areas, categorized under internal operational efficiency and outward-facing service delivery.
Four key operational challenges are identified: tool performance, integration and governance, data privacy and protection, and internal staff trust.
Effective use of AI in policing requires maintaining a human in the loop to manage algorithm bias, hallucinations, and context limitations.
New Zealand Police operations must navigate these technologies by aligning with the New Technology Framework, Algorithm Charter, and international AI principles.

Principles it states

NecessityEffectivenessLawfulnessPartnershipFairnessPrivacySecurityProportionalityOversight and accountabilityTransparency

Outline

· Document details
· Executive Summary
· 1 Introduction
· 2 AI: Definition, categorisation, and functionalities
· 3 AI technologies currently used to improve internal operational efficiency
· 4 AI technologies currently used to enhance outward facing service delivery
· 5 AI Challenges and Opportunities for New Zealand Police
· 6 Conclusion
· 7 Limitations of this report
· References
· Security Classification

IssuedJuly 2024

Length31,052 words · 96 pages

FormatNot recorded

Scopenational

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

4/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

Police, however, operate the ‘New Technology Framework’, based on the Policy for trial or adoption of new technology. This provides some assurance as it surfaces possible risks and ensures accountability by system owners.

5 Executive Summary

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Oversight

4/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

Keep a human in the loop: Given potential inaccuracies, humans are still needed to control an AI tool’s output, which requires the provision of the right training and continuous oversight.

Executive Summary

screening score · 2026-10-23

Transparency

3/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

increase transparency of AI system’s functionality and benefits.

6 Table 1: Challenges of AI technologies and opportunities for New Zealand Police

screening score · 2026-10-23

Enforcement

4/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

policy, process, and audit and reporting controls must have been developed to assure that the technology is used only as intended.

5.2.2.4 Demonstrate alignment to the New Zealand Police New Technology Framework, the Algorithm Charter, and the Australia New Zealand Police Artificial Intelligence Principles.

screening score · 2026-10-23

Impact Assessment

4/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

Conduct a privacy impact assessment before using these tools.

5.3.2.1 Understand the expectations of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the relation between IPPs and AI

screening score · 2026-10-23

Topics

Physical AI Governancesupporting

artificial_intelligence law_enforcement operational_efficiency police_service_delivery biometrics data_privacy