PDS seeks AI analytics tool for RASSO investigations
The Police Digital Service (PDS) has published a prior-information notice (PIN) seeking to engage with potential suppliers of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based analytics platform that could be used by officers investigating rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO).
The PDS said it is looking to firms that could provide “a data analysis tool which dynamically identifies and reports predatory behaviours from purely text-based information”. This could then be used to “support criminal justice and national security system investigations”, the PIN says.
It added: “This capability would facilitate information gathering and presentation to accelerate the decisions to proceed, charge and prosecute throughout a highly sensitive RASSO case. The intended solution requires AI-based automation to minimise interaction from operational colleagues.”
Victims of RASSO in the UK are being failed by the criminal justice system, according to a 2021 Home Office End-to-End Rape Review, which highlighted that “the vast majority of victims do not see the crime against them charged and reach a court: one in two victims withdraw from rape investigations”.
“As a result of the review, UK Policing made a number of commitments to improve the end-to-end investigation of RASSO and most importantly bring more offenders to justice,” the PDS said.
“The procurement is in support of a national programme to identify innovative technologies that can provide a positive step-change in the way RASSO is investigated across the UK to better meet the needs of law enforcement and victims of crime.”
Firms have until midday on September 30 to register their interest with a “RASSO technology awareness session” expected to be held in central London during the week commencing October 16.