Defence Holdings PLC (LSE: ALRT) has unveiled a new national security pillar and signed its first collaboration with Gloucestershire Police to automate interview reporting using sovereign AI technology.
The UK-listed defence software company will deploy AI to convert police interviews into structured digital reports. The proof-of-value programme targets ROVI (Record of Video Interview) and ROTI (Record of Taped Interview) documentation, which currently consumes tens of thousands of officer hours annually across UK policing.
This type of AI technology is becoming increasingly common across a wide range of business applications, so Defence Holdings will need to build a foothold with similar organisations to generate a significant business line.
The technology aims to transform unstructured PACE-governed interview data into case-ready summaries. Initial trials will establish performance benchmarks and operational suitability, with a second phase planned for spring 2026 to assess evidential-grade accuracy.
Defence Holdings says annual interview processing represents one of policing’s most resource-intensive tasks. Audio recordings generate thousands of hours of unstructured content weekly, all requiring conversion into evidential material. This creates delays in case progression and inconsistent quality.
The capability has potential for wider deployment across UK forces and defence applications. The same core technology could accelerate intelligence processing in national security operations, supporting the UK’s Strategic Defence Review focus on information advantage.
“We are pleased to collaborate on this initiative. If reliable automation can maintain the accuracy and structure required under PACE, it has the potential to unlock operational value for policing and the wider justice system,” said Maggie Blyth, Chief Constable, Gloucestershire Police.
Defence Holdings will fund the programme as part of its sovereign AI investment strategy. Gloucestershire Police will provide operational insight and controlled data access. Delivery commences immediately.
“By applying sovereign AI to high-volume evidential workflows, we aim to free officer time and improve the consistency of interview documentation,” said Andy McCartney, CTO, Defence Holdings PLC.
“If successful, the capability we develop here could provide a foundation for scalable deployment across policing, defence and national security operations. We are delighted to launch this work as a dedicated National Security executional pillar within Defence Technologies, and to be collaborating with Gloucestershire Police as the first operational partner in validating this capability.”