Interoperability in justice and public safety forum: workshop
1pm – 3pm23 July 2026
London
techUK, 10 St Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AD
Interoperability is now central to policing reform, justice collaboration, public safety delivery and the better use of data.
As part of our Interoperability in Justice and Public Safety Forum we are hosting a workshop that will bring together stakeholders from across government, policing, public safety and industry to explore two linked ideas:
The Consistent Interface Layer – creating a more consistent way for systems to access and share common capabilities across organisational boundaries.
The Interoperability Marketplace – reusing proven patterns, adapters, mappings, test packs and assurance evidence, rather than solving the same integration problems repeatedly.
Session overview
Forces and agencies will continue to use different systems and suppliers. Some local configuration will always be needed. The challenge is to allow that local flexibility while reducing unnecessary variation in how systems connect, share information and support audit.
The workshop will explore interoperability at two levels:
At the force or agency boundary, where capabilities need to be exposed or consumed in a consistent way.
At the supplier product level, where products need to support integration now and move towards stronger alignment with national standards over time.
Workshop focus
The workshop will focus on two breakout discussions.
Breakout 1: Consistent Interface Layer
This group will explore how a common access layer could work in practice. Discussion areas will include:
What should the Consistent Interface Layer do?
Where should it sit: force boundary, agency boundary, supplier product, integration platform, or a combination?
Which initial use cases would be suitable for testing?
How should it align with the PDS Interoperability Handbook, POLE, API standards, identity, lawful purpose, audit and assurance?
How can local configuration be supported without creating unnecessary local variation?
How could suppliers and products be assessed for readiness to support a consistent access layer?
Breakout 2: Interoperability Marketplace
This group will explore how reusable interoperability assets could be shared, adopted and assured. Discussion areas will include:
What should an Interoperability Marketplace contain?
Could it include reusable patterns, adapters, mappings, test packs, reference implementations and assurance evidence?
How could it reduce repeated integration work across forces, agencies and suppliers?
What would need to be assured before an asset could be reused?
Who should govern, maintain and update marketplace assets?
How could the marketplace support SMEs as well as larger suppliers?
Expected outputs
The workshop is intended to produce:
A clearer view of the role and scope of the Consistent Interface Layer
A shortlist of potential initial use cases
Practical assessment questions for suppliers, products, forces and agencies
A view on what an Interoperability Marketplace could contain
A set of issues to take into a follow-up Delivery Framework session
Follow-up Delivery Framework session
The outputs from the 23 July workshop will be used to shape a follow-up session focused on delivery. That session will consider how the ideas discussed on 23 July could be taken forward in practice, including governance, ownership, assurance, procurement, conformance, adoption, funding and delivery responsibilities.
Who should attend
Due to the nature of the session, the workshop will be hosted fully in person at techUK offices. If you are interested in joining the conversation please book your ticket.
Dave Evans
Head of Programme - Justice and Emergency Services and Economic Crime Lead, techUK
Dave is a former senior police officer with the City of London Police, bringing extensive experience as a Detective and senior leader across frontline operations and multi-agency partnerships at regional and national levels.
He has led and supported responses to major national incidents, including mass casualty events, counter-terrorism operations and large-scale public disorder, working closely with partners across the criminal justice sector.
Alongside his public service, Dave has also held leadership roles in the private sector, managing projects focused on intellectual property and licensing. His combined experience across both sectors gives him a deep understanding of how collaboration between service providers and end users can strengthen resilience and trust.
Junior Programme Manager - Justice and Emergency Services, techUK
Fran is the Junior Programme Manager for the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme. In this role she supports project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and policy development across portfolios including law enforcement, justice, and the fire sector.
Fran joined techUK in May 2025 as a Programme Team Assistant for the Public Sector Markets Programmes before progressing to her current role.
Prior to joining techUK, she gained experience working across local government and VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) charities, where she developed a deep understanding of public service and advocacy.
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.
Prior to joining techUK, Cinzia worked in the third and public sectors, managing projects related to international trade and social inclusion.
Justice and Emergency Services Programme activities
The techUK Justice and Emergency Services Programme represents tech firms operating in the public safety, criminal justice, and blue light markets. We create strong relationships between members and public sector customers, encouraging industry engagement, and unlocking innovation. Visit the programme page here.
Solving policing's toughest challenges – Can your technology make the difference?
The NPCC Policing Problem Book sets out 13 real challenges where policing needs industry's help — from digital evidence capture to building data-literate workforces. techUK members are invited to submit thought-leadership pieces responding to one or more problem statements, which will be shared directly with NPCC and OPCSA ahead of the NPCC Innovation and Digital Summit 2026. Submissions feed into the Policing Problem Book Impact Day on 9 September.
Policing enters a new era: technology at the heart of reform
Policing is entering a new era, with technology playing a central role in reform, capability and public trust. This piece explores how digital tools, data and innovation are supporting more effective policing, the challenges forces face in adopting new technology, and what reform means for industry and public safety partners — read the insight to understand how technology is shaping the future of policing.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Head of Programme - Justice and Emergency Services and Economic Crime Lead, techUK
Dave Evans
Head of Programme - Justice and Emergency Services and Economic Crime Lead, techUK
Dave is a former senior police officer with the City of London Police, bringing extensive experience as a Detective and senior leader across frontline operations and multi-agency partnerships at regional and national levels.
He has led and supported responses to major national incidents, including mass casualty events, counter-terrorism operations and large-scale public disorder, working closely with partners across the criminal justice sector.
Alongside his public service, Dave has also held leadership roles in the private sector, managing projects focused on intellectual property and licensing. His combined experience across both sectors gives him a deep understanding of how collaboration between service providers and end users can strengthen resilience and trust.
Fran Richiusa
Junior Programme Manager - Justice and Emergency Services, techUK
Fran Richiusa
Junior Programme Manager - Justice and Emergency Services, techUK
Fran is the Junior Programme Manager for the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme. In this role she supports project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and policy development across portfolios including law enforcement, justice, and the fire sector.
Fran joined techUK in May 2025 as a Programme Team Assistant for the Public Sector Markets Programmes before progressing to her current role.
Prior to joining techUK, she gained experience working across local government and VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) charities, where she developed a deep understanding of public service and advocacy.
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.
Prior to joining techUK, Cinzia worked in the third and public sectors, managing projects related to international trade and social inclusion.
