Crown Prosecution Service · 2026-06-12 · major
UK Police Officer Under Investigation for Using AI to Fake Evidence
A Derbyshire officer is under criminal investigation for using AI to fabricate evidence in several cases, and has been removed from frontline duty. The Crown Prosecution Service is reviewing affected work with defence teams. First reported by the FT on June 12.
A UK police officer used generative AI to fabricate evidence in real cases — the country's first known criminal investigation of its type.
What is it
Derbyshire Constabulary has pulled a serving officer from frontline duty after the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed an inquiry into the officer's alleged use of generative AI to create evidence in a number of cases. The officer has not been named and no arrests have been made. The CPS is engaging with defence teams and courts that may have been affected, and OECD-AI has logged the case as the first known UK incident of its type.
How it works
The exact AI tool and the form of the fabricated material have not been disclosed. OECD-AI classifies the case as content-generation misuse by a public official, falling under perverting the course of justice. It follows an earlier 2026 UK incident in which West Midlands Police cited a non-existent football match generated by an AI assistant when restricting visiting fans.
Why it matters
The case sets the first concrete UK precedent for AI-assisted evidence fabrication inside the justice system, and pushes police forces and prosecutors to write explicit rules on officer use of generative AI. Any case worked by the officer is now at risk of being reopened or thrown out.
Who it's for
policymakers, defence lawyers, AI policy teams