IN a dimly lit control room in London, a detective analyses real time crime maps generated by artificial intelligence. In Dubai, a drone hovers above a traffic accident, relaying three-dimensional imagery to first responders. From São Paulo to Seoul, police forces are embracing cutting-edge technologies to fight crime faster and more transparently than ever before. The global revolution in policing is here. Here’s how technology is rewriting the rules of law enforcement, and this is not fiction; it’s reality.

AI-powered systems, like Los Angeles Police Department’s predictive policing, analyse historical crime data to forecast hotspots, enabling pre-emptive patrols. While critics argue about bias risks, proponents hail its 25 per cent reduction in property crimes in pilot zones. China’s Skynet system uses 600 million CCTV cameras and facial recognition to identify suspects within seconds. Although controversial, its role in locating missing persons and fugitives is undeniable.

Modern cameras now stream footage to cloud servers in real-time, allowing supervisors to guide officers during crises — a game-changer for ac­­c­o­u­­ntability and training. Newer models can analyse interactions in real-time, detecting threats and flagging aggressive behaviour. The US has begun integrating these with real-time transcription and AI-assisted de-escalation techniques. Jap­­an has invested in augmented reality training simulations for improvement in crisis response. Biometric-triggered guns ensure that only authorised personnel can fire, reducing accidental or illegal use. South Africa is testing these firearms to address police weapon theft. AR glasses and headsets provide real-time facial recognition, suspect profiles, and navigation assistance during patrols; Germany is equipping riot police with these for crowd control.

Secure, tamper-proof blockchain technology ensures integrity and chain-of-custody tracking of digital evidence. Estonia is pioneering this system in handling forensic cases. The UAE uses smart AI assistants to generate instant, detailed reports from officer bodycams and voice recordings, reducing the administrative burden. High-speed networks allow instant data transmission from body cameras, patrol cars and drone feeds to command centres. Sweden uses 5G-powered CCTV surveillance for rapid response in urban areas.

Brazil employs AI to scrape social networks to detect threats, gang activity and radicalisation patterns before crimes occur. Norway has heart rate and stress monitors to assess the well-being of officers and prevent burnout during high-stress situations. China has started applying AI-powered, driverless patrol cars with onboard surveillance and communication tools for the expansion of coverage in large urban areas.

Criminals are increasingly using sophisticated technology that manual policing methods struggle to counter.

Dubai Police deploys AI-controlled drone swar­­ms to assess disasters, deliver medical supplies and even chase suspects through dense urban areas. NYPD’s hubs integrate licence plate readers, social media feeds and surveillance cameras into a single dashboard, slashing response times for active threats. India’s Aadhaar system, linked to criminal databases, allows officers to scan fingerprints or irises at traffic stops to instantly verify identities even in remote villages. Singapore’s patrol robots spot undesirable behaviours like smoking in prohibited areas, while Tunisia uses bomb disposal bots to neutralise threats safely.

Germany’s federal police use AI to scan hate speech platforms, gang activity and trafficking clues, identifying patterns invisible to the human eye. Seoul’s labs employ machine learning to obtain DNA and fingerprint analyses and digital evidence within hours — not weeks — turning cold cases into closed cases. The Dutch police create virtual replicas of cities to simulate crimes, test response strategies, and train officers in hyper-realistic scenarios.

The dark web facilitates the illicit sale of weapons, drugs, and human trafficking, requiring law enforcement agencies to enhance digital forensics and cyber patrols. AI-driven monitoring systems help detect suspicious online transactions, while block chain technology is being explored to track criminal activities more effectively. The US agencies are increasingly relying on AI to break encry­ption used for criminal activities in the dark web.

Law enforcement agencies worldwide are now partnering with universities and private tech firms to develop robust AI-driven policing solutions with international cooperation. The European Union, for example, has launched cross-border initiatives that allow real-time data sharing between member states, helping track suspects across multiple jurisdictions.

These tools aren’t without risks. Facial recognition misidentification, algorithmic bias and over-surveillance threaten civil liberties. Yet, when deployed responsibly, technology can enhance both safety and trust. Brazil’s Pacer system, for instance, pairs crime-mapping AI with community outreach programmes in favelas, reducing violence and rebuilding public faith.

From Mumbai to Milwaukee, criminals are leveraging technology — encrypted messaging, dro­ne smuggling, cyberattacks — and police must keep pace. Nations slow to adopt these tools face rising cybercrime, inefficient resource allocation, and eroding public confidence. Investment isn’t just about gadgets; it’s about training, oversight and collaboration with ethicists and communities. Governments must balance innovation with ethical concerns, ensuring that law enforcement rem­ains both effective and accountable. The future of policing lies not just in new technologies but in the policies and training that govern their use.

Of course, we can choose to not use AI in policing but this will significantly hamper law enforcement’s ability to effectively prevent and respond to crime. Without AI-powered predictive analytics, police forces rely on traditional methods that often lack efficiency, leading to slower response times and missed opportunities to prevent crimes. Criminals are increasingly using sophisticated technology, such as encrypted communications and cyber fraud, which manual policing methods struggle to counter.

Human limitations in processing vast amounts of information result in slower investigations and higher chances of errors in suspect identification. Law-enforcement agencies that fail to adopt AI risk falling behind in the fight against cybercrime, terrorism, and organised crime. This is the way policing is being managed globally. The question isn’t whether we can afford to modernise our police, it’s whether we can afford not to.

The writer is a retired inspector general of police and ex-head of the National Counter Terrorism Authority.

X: [@Kkf50][1]

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2025