Event roundup: National Technology Board Industry engagement session

techUK in collaboration with the National Technology Board, has hosted an industry roundtable on February 24, bringing together policing, industry and technical leaders to address long-standing challenges in how UK policing engages with technology suppliers and to shape a more strategic and coordinated model for future collaborations. 

The session started with a presentation from Mike Lattanzio, Chair of the National Technology Board (NTB), and Fiona Brown, Chief Information Officer at Kent Police and Essex Police. 

Discussion points 

The session explored several themes, beginning with the challenges created by the current fragmented engagement landscape. Participants noted that inconsistent approaches across forces make it difficult for suppliers to understand how to engage at national, regional, or local levels, often resulting in duplicated work and missed opportunities for shared innovation. There was broad agreement that clearer standards and a more coordinated engagement model are needed to unlock greater value for policing. 

Breakout groups then examined the potential design of an independent technical advisory board to support the National Technology Board. Its role would be to offer strategic, practical guidance on standards, market insight, and horizon scanning, while remaining independent of commercial decision-making. 

The discussion also covered the development of regular, problem led industry engagement days focused on generating solutions to shared policing challenges rather than vendor driven pitches. 

Finally, the group recognised that delivering effective advisory and engagement functions will require dedicated resources and sustained support, involving neutral bodies like techUK.