Metropolitan Police Service Builds Trust Through Data-Driven Assurance Governance

Having spent two decades in senior policing roles, I've learned that the challenge of modern law enforcement isn't just about having the right data; it's about having the right oversight to ensure that data is used ethically and responsibly.

The Metropolitan Police Service (the Met) operates at extraordinary scale, with responsibilities spanning neighbourhood policing to counterterrorism — a complexity that demands seamless coordination, strong assurance, and robust oversight. This complexity brings a critical challenge: enabling officers and staff to use data effectively in frontline policing, while ensuring sensitive information is protected, access is controlled, and victims, citizens, and communities remain safeguarded. When the Met launched Connect in 2022, it marked a major step forward in how the force records, accesses, and uses policing data. The tool helped unify fragmented legacy systems, bringing together information to support better decision-making, investigations, and frontline operations. But as any officer or indeed anyone managing sensitive information knows, providing wider access to this data creates a critical assurance challenge. How do you ensure data use is monitored, audited, and governed effectively to prevent misuse, protect citizens, and maintain public trust?

When we started working with the Met, the goal wasn't simply to deploy a security or observability tool; it was to build a proactive intelligence capability designed to transform how the force detects and addresses insider threats. Leveraging Splunk's AI-powered, unified security and observability platform, we delivered a tailored solution that helps the Met monitor activity across Connect in real time. What began as a reactive investigative tool quickly evolved into a proactive intelligence and assurance system, empowering around 150 trained users across the organisation to monitor real-time activity, surface anomalous behaviour, and act swiftly to protect sensitive data and public trust.

What resonates most with me is how this has transformed the day-to-day for the team. Instead of spending weeks on manual audits, officers now get the insights they need in minutes—saving nearly 4,800 hours of work and freeing eight staff members to focus on higher-value tasks. Detective Sergeant Graham Wenn highlights the efficiency gains: "Some of the manual methods we previously used to audit insider threats would take us a week. Now, we click a button, and it's done in 10 minutes."

Within the first year, the Met identified 298 breaches related to Connect ICT systems, alongside 149 technical breaches across other data systems. These aren't just numbers—they represent a significant strengthening of internal accountability. By detecting unusual activity early, the Met addresses issues before they escalate, reinforcing public trust through transparency.

Beyond efficiency, the solution has strengthened compliance and assurance, supporting both regulatory requirements and internal standards.

Looking ahead, the Met plans to expand its data analytics capabilities by integrating additional sources and exploring AI-driven insights to further enhance proactive threat detection. Collaborations with partners such as HMRC and BAE Systems are also underway to share best practices and accelerate progress. As Linda Wales, Regional Sales Manager at Splunk, notes: "Our work with the Metropolitan Police Service is a fantastic example of what's possible when data transparency, proactive risk management, and a desire to build public trust underpin digital transformation."

If you'd like to learn more about how Splunk can help transform public services, download our field guide: 20 Ways to Use Splunk in the Public Sector. Each use case is tagged by challenge and vertical, making it easy to browse and find inspiration for your own projects.