United Arab Emirates

Police agencies need integrated systems, responsible use of artificial intelligence and faster intelligence exchanges to address surveillance gaps and increasingly sophisticated cross-border crime, speakers said at a World Police Summit dialogue hosted by Dubai Police on Friday.

The session examined how AI, connected security platforms and real-time information sharing could help law enforcement identify threats and improve responses. Participants included Col. Dr Rashid Hamdan Al Ghafri, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology; Russell Hammad, founder and CEO of Zenith Group; and Dr Adel Alsharji, chief operating officer of Presight.

Speakers said criminals’ growing use of digital platforms and international networks has increased the need for police forces, governments, technology companies and academic institutions to work together. They argued that no country can manage threats that cross borders on its own.

The World Police Summit includes more than 150 exhibitors and sponsors, as well as over 220 speakers and experts. Its programme covers 14 topics linked to challenges facing police forces globally and provides a forum for law enforcement agencies, government representatives and technology specialists to exchange expertise and consider responses to emerging security threats.

Cooperation beyond information exchange

Al Ghafri said bringing together police leaders from different countries and sectors is important in tackling shared security concerns. International cooperation can enable agencies to share operational experience and best practices, while developing approaches that can be adapted to different policing environments.

Participants said linking information held by separate agencies could assist investigators in spotting patterns and connections between incidents that initially appear unrelated. They stressed, however, that cooperation should not be limited to discussion or the exchange of ideas.

Police forces also need compatible and integrated systems, relevant intelligence-sharing arrangements and coordinated responses if technological advances are to produce practical security outcomes, the discussion heard. Public-private partnerships were identified as important because technology companies can develop tools for investigations, intelligence analysis and operational work.

Bridging physical and digital security

The panel considered the growing overlap between physical security and cybersecurity. Integrated surveillance and intelligence systems may help authorities detect threats more effectively by bringing together information from different sources.

Hammad pointed to the difficulty of maintaining security over large geographical areas, particularly where conventional surveillance and communications networks do not provide complete coverage. While urban centres may have extensive surveillance infrastructure, remote locations can create different challenges for monitoring activity and responding to possible threats.

Connected patrol vehicles and intelligent surveillance tools can help officers identify people, vehicles and locations, according to the discussion. By combining information, those systems may give police a broader view of a potential threat and reveal links among people, vehicles and incidents that could otherwise be missed.

The aim, speakers said, is to replace isolated systems with a connected security environment in which information can be analysed and used in real time. They also emphasised that intelligence must reach officers in the field, where combining physical surveillance data with digital intelligence can support better-informed decisions during developing situations.

Human oversight remains central

As AI becomes more widely used in policing, participants said agencies must invest in more than new equipment. They need the skills, institutional capacity and infrastructure to use the technology effectively, alongside accountability and appropriate human oversight.

Alsharji took part in the discussion on how law enforcement organisations are adapting as technology develops. AI-enabled systems can process large volumes of data, identify patterns and support intelligence analysis, the speakers said, but their value depends on data quality, system reliability and officers’ ability to interpret and act on the results.

New tools must also be incorporated into existing operations and matched to practical security needs. Agencies face an ongoing need to assess their capabilities, train personnel and adjust to new methods used by criminals as technology evolves, the panel heard.

Priority on connected intelligence

When asked which operational gap should be addressed first, panelists repeatedly pointed to system integration and information sharing. Connecting platforms and strengthening cooperation between agencies could help law enforcement make better use of available resources, coordinate more effectively and respond to crime spanning several jurisdictions.

Rapid intelligence exchange is particularly important when a threat develops across multiple jurisdictions or involves different types of criminal activity, the speakers said. They added that advanced technology must provide usable results, giving commanders and frontline personnel access to relevant information at the moment it is needed.

Fragmented systems and uncoordinated responses can undermine even substantial investment in security technology, according to the discussion. The panel concluded that governments, police forces and technology partners need to operate as an integrated ecosystem, combining intelligence, expertise and operational capability while sharing information responsibly and turning it into timely action.