Derbyshire Police have launched an investigation into a serving officer accused of using artificial intelligence to generate evidential material, marking the first known case of its kind within the UK criminal justice system. The officer has been removed from frontline duties as the force works closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to examine allegations of perverting the course of justice.

The force confirmed that the inquiry is in its early stages and declined to provide specific details about the nature of the suspected misconduct or the exact role of the officer involved. A spokeswoman stated that the investigation concerns the alleged creation of evidential material—potentially including witness statements—using AI technology in multiple cases. No arrests have been made at this time.

The CPS said it is actively collaborating with Derbyshire Police, engaging with defence teams and courts to assess and address any cases potentially impacted by the alleged use of artificial intelligence. It remains unclear if any prosecutions have been affected or overturned as a result.

This development coincides with the recent launch of PoliceAI, a national centre dedicated to the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in policing. At the launch event, interim director Alex Murray emphasized the importance of integrating AI carefully to enhance crime fighting while maintaining reliability. Murray also acknowledged that some police forces have been advised to suspend the use of AI tools for tasks such as preparing court statements due to concerns over their accuracy.

While the Derbyshire case represents the first public instance of alleged AI misuse in British policing, earlier incidents have also highlighted risks associated with AI deployment. In January, West Midlands Chief Constable Craig Guildford announced his early retirement following criticism over the force’s decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv football supporters from a Europa League match against Aston Villa. The decision was partly based on erroneous evidence involving an AI-generated account of disturbances at a previous match—an event that never actually occurred but was fabricated by Microsoft’s Copilot AI system. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood cited a loss of confidence in Guildford’s leadership related to the handling of the incident.

As law enforcement agencies increasingly explore AI applications, the Derbyshire inquiry underscores emerging challenges in ensuring the ethical and accurate use of such technologies within the justice process. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to thorough examination of the facts to protect the integrity of ongoing and past criminal cases.