01/FOI/26/007800/K - IT and Software spend

Request:

I would be grateful if you could provide the following details regarding your police force's IT expenditure for the past three fiscal years (from 2023/24 to 2025/26):

1) Total IT Expenditure:
Please provide the overall IT expenditure for each of the last three fiscal years.

2) Software Expenditure:
Please provide the total spend on software for each of the last three fiscal years. This should include initial software licence fees, software maintenance fees, and subscription fees but should exclude associated services such as installation.

3) Cell-Site, Communications Data and Digital Forensics Software – Supplier and Spend Detail:
For each of the last three fiscal years, please provide the following for any software used for cell-site analysis, communications data analysis (e.g. call data records / CDRs), digital device extraction analysis, or associated intelligence / link analysis. This includes, for example, products supplied by Forensic Analytics Ltd, Chorus Intelligence Ltd, or equivalent providers:
- the name of the supplier and the product(s) held;
- the total spend or annual contract value (including licence, maintenance and subscription fees, but excluding associated services such as installation, training or consultancy);
- the number of software licences or named users held;

If supplier- or contract-level information is not held in this form, I would instead be grateful for the total software spend (as defined at point 2 above) on software of this type — i.e. software primarily used by cell-site / communications data units, digital forensics units, or intelligence / analysis teams, as opposed to software used across the wider police force — for each of the last three fiscal years.

If any part of this request is unclear or would benefit from further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. I understand that under the Act, I am entitled to a response within 20 working days. I would prefer the information to be provided in electronic format via email.

Response:

Humberside Police can confirm we do hold the information you requested.

1) Total IT Expenditure:

2023/24 - £12,264,649

2024/25 - £14,263,903

2025/26 - £15,555,480

2) Software Expenditure:

2023/24 - £2,532,320

2024/25 - £3,801,361

2025/26 - £4,845,400

3) Cell-Site, Communications Data and Digital Forensics Software – Supplier and Spend Detail

It has been determined that information in respect of question 3 is being withheld by virtue of Section 31(1) of the Act. As this is a qualified prejudice based exemption, we are required to illustrate the harm in disclosure and conduct a Public Interest Test.

Section 31(1) – Law Enforcement

Harm

Disclosure under FOIA is deemed a release to the public at large and ‘applicant blind’. This means that we cannot, and do not, ask about the motives of anyone who asks for information. In providing a response to one person, we are expressing a willingness to provide the same response to anyone, including those who might represent a threat to the UK. By releasing data in relation to specific named software systems, spend figures and number of licences/users, it would allow those with criminal or terrorist intent to build a picture of Police capability, dependencies and the technologies relied upon, ultimately giving them intelligence of our tactical capabilities. This would provide criminals and terrorists with an insight into vulnerable and sensitive areas covered by the Force. Having this knowledge would make is easier for them to commit targeted, malicious actions and cause harm to vulnerable areas. In light of the above, disclosing this information would lead to more crime being committed, placing individuals at risk and it would consequently have a large impact on police resources.

This would also lead to a greater fear of crime amongst the public. Releasing Force capabilities would overall provide criminals with an opportunity to disrupt police activity and therefore undermine law enforcement functions. This would be detrimental to our ability to prevent and detect crime. 

Factors favouring disclosure

The public are entitled to know how public funds are spent and what resources are used. To confirm this information would highlight to the public that the Police are using the most appropriate software for use in the investigative process.

Factors favouring non-disclosure

Disclosure of specific information around intelligence, communications data and digital forensics software would provide those intent on carrying out criminal activity with the information to do so. It would identify policing capabilities, dependencies and the technologies relied upon by the Force to support operational activity and the investigative process.

This would have a negative impact on the prevention and detection of crime. 

Balance

Whilst there is public interest in the transparency of how the Force delivers effective law enforcement, e.g. software used in intelligence, communications data and digital forensics functions and spend on these resources, there is also very strong public interest in safeguarding Police capabilities that support operational activity and the investigative process.

Having considered both sides of the public interest, the negative consequences of disclosure would clearly outweigh the public interest in disclosure. Therefore, on this occasion the balance favours non-disclosure.