Have you got an idea to solve a policing challenge? Are you eager to share your thoughts and ideas to make your job easier?
The Flashlight Programme wants to hear about it.
The Flashlight Technical Idea Pitch is a unique opportunity to pitch ideas for innovative technology to support policing.
In a new collaborative partnership, the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Society of Evidence Based Policing (SEBP), Accenture and the Open University Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CRPL) have come together to encourage technical innovation for the service.
The programme seeks to identify, test, showcase and support examples of excellence, with the chance for finalists to receive support and mentoring in moving their pitch forward, and a selected finalist receiving in-depth technical support in helping their innovation to implementation.
Who can apply?
Nominations are welcomed from any member of the policing workforce, with an idea for a technical innovation aimed at solving policing challenges.
Projects or ideas that have already received funding are not eligible to apply – this is to support new examples of technological innovation that are yet to be fully explored.
Nominations will be evaluated by a judging panel consisting of PSA representatives and external experts. Five shortlisted projects will then be supported in developing their ideas into proof of concepts, before being invited to present on their innovation at the annual conference of the PSA in September 2026, to an audience of peers and policing leaders. All finalists will receive support from AWS and Accenture in further refining their innovation from a proof of concept into a production solution.
What sort of ideas are encouraged?
Nomination Criteria:
- The proposal must address a specific operational or strategic policing challenge
- The proposal must clearly outline how the solution will address the challenge and the measurable benefits it will bring
- The proposal must be scalable
- The proposal must involve use of technology used in a new way or the introduction of new technology not previously used.
- The concept must address one of the 13 areas listed in the NPCC Problem Book
To submit a project for consideration, complete and submit this form by Friday 10th April.
Should you have any questions on the application or shortlisting process, please contact [email protected].
