by The UK’s first AI virtual police assistant has been launched to give the public a new way to engage with them.
The virtual assistant, named ‘Bobbi’, was used as part of a trial by both Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police.
The forces have joined forces to co-develop Assistant, which answers frequently asked, non-urgent questions and offers the public a new way to engage with them.
A force spokesman said: “Bobbi will interact with you like a human, but is fully automated.
“This is the first time this technology has been used in policing in the UK and, alongside our online forms, telephone lines and reception desks, provides an additional service for those who would prefer to use a virtual assistant to ask questions and seek help or advice.
“You cannot use the technology to report a crime or as an alternative to calling 999.
“Bobbi was tested by over 200 people during its development, including representatives from victim support groups and members of independent review panels.”
Thames Valley Police are one of the forces involved in the trial (Tim Ockenden/PA)
The spokesperson added that Bobbi will make suggestions and recommendations using the same guidelines and information available to human call handlers in the armed forces.
They added: “If Bobbi is unable to answer your question or you indicate that you would like to speak to a person, your chat will be transferred to one of our digital desk agents – who are all real people.”
Chief Superintendent Simon Dodds, head of contact management for both forces, said: “This is a really exciting time for us as we test this technology in policing.
“Locally and nationally, contact with police is increasing every year, both online and by telephone, and it is important that the valuable skills of our call handlers and digital desk operators are utilized for emergencies and complex, sensitive issues.”
“Empathy, common sense and that intangible gut feeling are some of the many human skills that must guide our interactions with the public, especially in times of need.
“By providing quick answers to common, non-urgent questions, Bobbi will improve our service to our communities and ensure every member of the public gets the help they need, when they need it.
“Bobbi will always be a work in progress. As we bring the technology to market today after an intensive development and testing period, our experienced staff will continue to train them to troubleshoot any bugs, stay current with laws and policies, and continue to evolve the technology in line with the needs of our communities.”
