Derbyshire police officer investigated over AI-generated ‘evidential material’ - The Guardian

A Derbyshire police officer is currently the subject of a criminal investigation regarding allegations that they used artificial intelligence to fabricate evidence for use in legal proceedings. This marks the first known instance of such an investigation in the United Kingdom, leading to the officer's immediate removal from frontline duties.

What happened

The officer is accused of perverting the course of justice by utilizing AI systems to create evidential material across a number of cases. Derbyshire police confirmed that they are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to identify and review potentially impacted legal proceedings. While the investigation remains in its early stages and no arrests have been made, the CPS is actively engaging with defense teams and the courts to manage the implications of the alleged misconduct.

The discovery coincides with broader concerns within UK law enforcement regarding the reliability of AI. Alex Murray, head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Police AI centre, has previously instructed multiple police forces to cease using AI systems for tasks such as drafting court statements, citing concerns that the technology may not be sufficiently reliable for judicial contexts. While the specific nature of the AI-generated evidence in the Derbyshire case remains undisclosed, the incident has prompted a formal review of the officer’s past casework.