The CDEI has commissioned RUSI to carry out independent research into the potential for bias to occur in predictive analytics technologies being developed by police forces, as part of our wider review into bias in algorithmic decision-making.
The CDEI and RUSI held a roundtable last week which brought together police forces, civil society organisations, academics and policymakers to discuss the use of algorithms in policing, the potential for bias and how the regulatory and governance environment can be improved. This followed a roundtable held earlier in the week, in partnership with TechUK, to explore the role of technology providers in this space.
Attendees at the roundtables discussed a wide range of issues including:
The CDEI will use the findings of this research to co-develop, with the policing sector, a code of practice for the trialling of predictive analytical technology in policing. The code will seek to mitigate algorithmic bias and address wider ethical concerns.
RUSI will publish initial research findings in September, with CDEI’s draft code of practice circulated for consultation with stakeholders in October. The CDEI will publish its final report on the review into bias in algorithmic decision-making, including recommendations to the Government, in March 2020.
Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets operating from Ämari Air Base in Estonia launched on Sunday 28th July to intercept a Russian IL-76 military transport aircraft that was flying close to Estonian airspace.
This is a routine NATO mission for the Typhoons which provides reassurance that the UK is here to work in partnership with Estonia.
Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, said:
As this latest Quick Reaction Alert demonstrates, the RAF are frequently called upon to use their world class skills and capabilities to help police and protect the skies over the Baltics.
Our personnel deployed to Estonia and around the world are always ready to react to any scenario as we continue our commitment to our NATO allies.
A Typhoon pilot from XI(Fighter) Squadron, attached to 121 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW), was conducting Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty when the scramble was called. He said:
We were scrambled to intercept an aircraft that was approaching Estonian airspace from the south. We identified and monitored it as it transited close to NATO airspace. This is standard protocol for aircraft that might not be communicating with Air Traffic Control or on a recognised flight plan.
We continued to escort the transport aircraft as it transited in a north direction, away from Estonian airspace.
The Royal Air Force is deployed on Operation AZOTIZE in Estonia in support of Baltic Air Policing. This is the 14th QRA scramble and intercept since the RAF took over enhanced Air Policing (eAP) from the German Air Force on 3 May 2019 as part of Baltic Air Policing. The UK operates in support of NATO to reassure our allies and is a further demonstration of the UK’s commitment to the security of the region.
In April 2019, we published a news story advising that the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) would be implementing a change to the enhanced disclosure process.
A withdrawals policy is being introduced which means that from 1 August 2019, DBS will no longer be able to amend enhanced DBS check applications where missing or incorrect information has been identified in the following fields:
Section C – Five-year address history
This refers to addresses at which an applicant has resided within the last five years that haven’t been declared on the application.
From 1 August 2019, applications found to have missing address information as detailed above will be withdrawn and a new application will need to be submitted.
If an application is withdrawn for the above reasons, a refund will not be given.
Where such an omission is found, DBS will not contact the applicant, but will instead write to the Registered Body that submitted the enhanced application to inform them.
| Paper applications | e-Bulk applications |
| Question X61 – Workforce | “PositionAppliedFor” (Workforce only) |
| Question X66 – Home-based checks | “WorkingAtHomeAddress” |
If incorrect information is provided as part of these questions from Section X, from 1 August 2019, the application will be withdrawn, and a new application will be required.
For RBs, as before, DBS will contact you to resolve the query, and only if an error or omission is identified, will the application be withdrawn.
If an application is withdrawn for the above reasons, a refund will not be given.
Where such an error is found, DBS will not contact the applicant, but will instead write to you as the Registered Body that submitted the enhanced application.
For applications submitted prior to 1 August, DBS will continue to apply amendments, however applications submitted after this date will be subject to the withdrawal policy and a new application will be required.
The 6 broad areas that a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) compliance fee proposal should cover, including how it will be scored.