Working with policing to improve frontline digital thinking – have your say

We want your help to develop future learning to ensure you have the digital skills you need to carry out your role.

Most incidents today have a digital element and we need to recognise that it is now an integral part of day-to-day policing.

As people who regularly deal with live incidents, we want to give you a voice in shaping the future and building your knowledge of the digital world. We are keen to hear from everyone across policing, including response officers, control room staff, specials, police community support officers (PCSOs) and public-facing support staff.

We encourage you to take 10 to 15 minutes to fill in an anonymised survey which will help us identify key themes for future development. Your answers will help us to understand ways in which we can support you and everyone else in policing to deal effectively with incidents and reports involving a digital element.

The fully anonymised data from this survey will be shared with the Home Office in order to shape strategic thinking.

Our previous surveys resulted in the creation of Operation Modify – an interactive learning experience released through the College Learn – which has already helped more than 5,000 officers, staff and volunteers to improve their knowledge and skills in identifying and investigating digital opportunities during the initial response to an incident.

We all know that the digital world has become an integral part of all our lives and that it presents both challenges and opportunities to policing.

We will use the data from this survey to identify how we can support the front line and deliver more digital intelligence and investigation (DII) learning products.

The DII project is focused on delivering accessible and enjoyable operationally focused learning that will help everyone in policing to identify and maximise digital intelligence and investigative opportunities.

 It is our intention to build confidence and competence in digital skills because we want officers and staff to become more effective in handling digital evidence as they would any other evidence.

Sarra Fotheringham, policing standards manager (digital & cyber), College of Policing

For the survey, which closes on 29 June, the meaning of digital has the broadest possible definition. It includes giving advice on, gathering, seizing and/or securing evidence from information communication technology sources (including computers, mobile telephones, tablets or routers) which generate, store and/or process data. 

It includes any identified digital element of an intelligence gathering and/or investigation process that presents an opportunity to improve outcomes. Have your say and fill in the survey now.