A pioneering new approach to help ensure police officers and staff in Gloucestershire are vetted to the highest standards is to be trialled.

Vetting is integral to ensuring people working for Gloucestershire Constabulary follow the code of ethics and expected professional standards. In recent years, this has taken a hit following high profile misconduct cases, and Gloucestershire will be using the technology to provide assurances.

The constabulary will work with Synalogik, an automated data company based in Tewkesbury, using its Scout platform. The platform combines data from government, police, third party and open-source intelligence databases and presents it in one bulk search, blended uniquely for vetting. This will allow the constabulary to ensure every applicant is reviewed against the key areas of concern, in a proportional and necessary manner.

Superintendent Paul Keasey, director of specialist operations at Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: "This new technology will be vital to help us strengthen police integrity. We recognise there have been issues in the past with vetting and ensuring that only the right people are in policing. In Gloucestershire, we are addressing this issue head-on and using innovative new technology to provide a better service and help safeguard the public.

"The platform uses auditable records to support our vetting teams and strengthen police integrity, not only increasing the quality of checks, but also the efficiency. This is absolutely vital if we are to increase trust and confidence in policing in Gloucestershire."

The Scout platform has been reviewed against strict constabulary ICT and security standards to ensure it is compliant, and will now undergo a further six months of testing before being rolled out.

Chris Nelson, police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Gloucestershire, said: "I am always looking at technology to offer solutions to tackling crime more efficiently and effectively. This initiative on vetting is our latest venture to improve our internal procedures.

"This technology should improve the quality, number and speed of our personnel data searches, which should reduce the inherent risks within any vetting process, meaning the public can be reassured that we will get smarter at spotting any recruit or serving officer or staff member who should not be in the constabulary."

Gareth Mussell, chief executive of Synalogik, said: "We are delighted to supply Scout to Gloucestershire Constabulary. We are excited by the results so far and are looking forward to working in partnership with Gloucestershire Constabulary during the trial."

The new technology aims to significantly increase the capacity and capability of the vetting teams to provide assurances that anyone working within the constabulary lives up to the expectations it has set. It is estimated the new technology could speed up checks by up to 85%.

The trial will last six months, and the platform is expected to be rolled out fully in February 2024.

Synalogik received the Queen's Award for Innovation last year.

Image credit: Thousand Word Media