Nearly half of police officers (42%) have called for investment in new crime-fighting technology to help fight modern day crime, according to a new report.

Research by YouGov, launched by SSCL, found that when asked which technology-based tools should be prioritised as an investment to help target modern day crime, officers called for increased investment to fight cyber/ online crime (56%) as the greatest need, while investments in mobile/ self-service devices (51%) and big data processing (35%) were also essential.

Sue-Ellen Wright, Managing Director SSCL Police, said: “The research is a powerful message about police officer priorities and solutions must be identified to support their growing needs. Clearly, shared services provide one viable option to unlock funding, reallocating spend to transform business service functions and help invest in technology to meet crime-fighting needs.

“SSCL aims to provide a whole service, through innovative solutions. Our technology and service enables process efficiencies that makes savings in back office functions in order to free up money for front line service investment.”

A lack of knowledge about shared services may, however, be a roadblock. The SSCL survey highlighted education is needed to understand the potential of shared services, with 24% of officers surveyed believing that a lack of knowledge around shared services would deter UK police forces from using them.

To help bridge this gap, SSCL is planning on working with police forces about shared services while highlighting the benefits and potential to transform UK policing.