As law enforcement agencies across Canada navigate an ever-evolving landscape of public safety, technology continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency, improving community relations, and ensuring data security. 

In 2025, several key trends are set to shape the future of policing. Here, we explore the top five trends in police technology, starting with the significant advancements in record request workflow automation.

1. Record Request Workflow Automation

With increasing demands for efficiency and transparency, police services are turning to record request workflow automation as a critical solution. By integrating advanced systems that automate the entire process—from application to decision-making—agencies can significantly reduce processing times and eliminate manual data entry.

Agile Records stands at the forefront of this trend, providing an end-to-end automated solution that streamlines the criminal record check process. Unlike competitors that rely on manual systems, our platform offers features such as:

• Seamless integration with police records management systems (RMS)
• Automated decision-making and scoring for faster processing
• Real-time updates to applicants, minimizing status check requests

By adopting such automation, police agencies can focus their resources on more critical tasks while ensuring that they maintain complete ownership of sensitive data.

2. Predictive Policing and Data Analytics

The use of predictive analytics is gaining traction in law enforcement, enabling agencies to anticipate and respond to crime patterns more effectively. By analyzing historical data, law enforcement can identify hotspots and allocate resources more efficiently.

In 2025, we expect to see the emergence of more sophisticated predictive policing tools that utilize machine learning algorithms. These tools can analyze vast amounts of data, including crime reports, social media activity, and environmental factors, providing officers with actionable insights. As a result, agencies can adopt a proactive approach to crime prevention, leading to safer communities.

3. Mobile Technology for Officers

As mobile technology continues to advance, police officers are increasingly equipped with smartphones and tablets to access vital information in real-time. In 2025, we can anticipate even greater integration of mobile solutions into daily policing operations.

Mobile apps that provide officers with access to criminal databases, GPS tracking, and instant communication with dispatch can enhance their situational awareness and decision-making abilities. This trend not only improves officer safety but also facilitates better community engagement, as officers can respond more swiftly to incidents and maintain a visible presence.

4. Body-Worn Cameras and Enhanced Accountability

The deployment of body-worn cameras (BWCs) has become a standard practice among law enforcement agencies, providing an essential tool for accountability and transparency. In 2025, we expect to see advancements in BWC technology that enhance data storage solutions, ensure better integration with existing systems, and improve data accessibility.

• Intelligent Data Management: AI and machine learning will play a significant role in managing stored footage. These technologies will enable automatic tagging, indexing, and categorization of video data based on incidents, making retrieval easier and more efficient.
• Advanced Analytics: BWCs will be equipped with advanced analytics tools that allow law enforcement agencies to extract valuable insights from video data. This could include trend analysis related to incidents, officer performance evaluations, and identifying areas for training improvements.
• Interoperability with RMS: BWCs in 2025 will be designed to integrate seamlessly with existing Records Management Systems (RMS) and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems. This will allow for automatic uploads of footage tied to specific incidents, streamlining case management and improving evidence handling.

5. Cybersecurity and Data Protection

As police agencies adopt more advanced technologies, the importance of robust cybersecurity measures cannot be overstated. In 2025, safeguarding sensitive data will be paramount, particularly as agencies increasingly rely on cloud-based solutions and external service providers.

Law enforcement agencies must prioritize cybersecurity training and implement advanced encryption techniques to protect against data breaches and cyberattacks. Additionally, having clear protocols for data management and access will ensure that sensitive information remains secure and that agencies maintain compliance with privacy regulations.

When working with suppliers to fulfill their digital ambitions, police services

Are You Prepared for the Future of Policing?

The future of policing in Canada is undoubtedly intertwined with technological advancements. By embracing these five trends, police services can enhance their operational efficiency, strengthen community trust, and ensure the security of sensitive data. As the leader in record request workflow automation, Agile Records is committed to helping law enforcement agencies navigate these changes and achieve their goals in an increasingly complex environment.

What if you could cut your record check processing time by 97%?

For one municipal police service in Ontario, this is no longer a hypothetical question—it’s a reality. Faced with overwhelming demand for criminal record checks, inefficient processes, and rising backlogs, they needed a solution that could radically transform their operations. By adopting Agile Records, this police service not only slashed processing times but also improved data security and privacy.

This case study outlines how Agile Records helped streamline their processes and achieved an impressive reduction in record request processing time.

The Challenge: Outdated Systems and Growing Backlogs

Like many police services in Canada, this department was inundated with requests for criminal record checks, background verifications, and other documentation. Processing these requests was a complex, manual process that involved pulling data from multiple systems. The team faced several key challenges:

• Manual Data Entry: Much of the work was done manually, requiring staff to input data across multiple systems. This led to significant delays and a high likelihood of human error.
• Siloed Systems: The existing software was outdated and didn’t integrate well with the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), or with the police service’s internal systems. This added time to the record-checking process and created redundancies.
• Backlogs Growing: Due to inefficiencies and the increasing volume of requests, the police service was struggling with a backlog that stretched out processing times to 3-4 weeks on average.
• Security and Privacy Risks: The manual nature of the system, combined with disjointed storage solutions, posed significant security risks. The department needed a solution that would secure sensitive data while maintaining compliance with privacy regulations.

The police service recognized the need for an overhaul. After evaluating different solutions, they chose Agile Records to automate and streamline their criminal record check process.

The Solution: End-to-end Record Request Software

Agile Records offered a suite of tools specifically designed for law enforcement agencies, enabling the police service to modernize and optimize its operations. The solution addressed the key challenges head-on:

• Automated Data Handling: Agile Records automated the most time-consuming tasks, such as pulling data from multiple sources and querying CPIC. This eliminated the need for staff to manually handle data and dramatically reduced errors.
• Integration with CPIC and Local Systems: One of the standout features was its ability to integrate directly with both national systems (like CPIC) and local databases. This allowed for real-time querying and eliminated the need for duplicative data entry.
• Enhanced Privacy and Security: The system provided centralized data storage, making it easier for the police service to control access to sensitive information and ensure compliance with privacy laws. 
• User-Friendly Interface: Agile Records also offered an intuitive interface, reducing the training required for staff and enabling them to quickly adopt the new system.

The Results: A Massive Improvement in Efficiency and Security

After the implementation of Agile Records, the police service experienced dramatic improvements in both speed and security. These included:

• Processing Time Reduction: Before Agile Records, the average processing time for a record check was 8 weeks. After implementation, this was reduced to just 24–48 hours, representing a 97% reduction in processing time.
• Backlog Cleared: The police service’s backlog, which had previously reached over 6,000 pending requests, was cleared in just a matter of weeks. Staff could now handle new requests as they came in, preventing future backlogs from forming.
• Staff Time Saved: By automating the bulk of the data entry process, Agile Records freed up over hundreds of hours of staff time per month. This allowed employees to focus on more complex tasks, such as reviewing flagged cases or engaging directly with citizens.
• Reduction in Errors: With automation handling the data querying process, the police service saw a 70% reduction in manual data entry errors, improving both the accuracy of the results and the speed at which they were delivered.
• Improved Data Security: Sensitive data was now centrally managed and encrypted within the police service’s own secure network.

Unlocking Efficiency with Agile Records

For this police service, the transition to Agile Records was transformative. In just a few months, they were able to reduce their processing times by 97%, eliminate their backlog, and drastically improve both the security and accuracy of their record-checking operations. With hundreds of hours of staff time saved per month, the department was able to improve overall service delivery while ensuring sensitive data was secure.

As more police services across Canada face similar challenges, Agile Records offers a path forward. Whether your department is dealing with increasing demand, outdated systems, or security risks, Agile Records can provide the tools you need to streamline operations and improve service quality.

By John Mihailov

Mr. Mihailov is a business analyst for Rogue Data Corporation with over 30 years experience in defining requirements and supporting the implementation of workflow systems including police reporting systems automation.

For more information, please visit www.policeservicesoftware.ca for more details, or contact us directly at (613)260-1653 x119. Email Mr. Mihailov directly at [email protected]

When it comes to managing criminal record checks, efficiency and security are top priorities for police services. The sheer volume of requests, coupled with the need for fast, accurate processing, creates operational challenges that many police services across Canada are familiar with. 

Enter Agile Records, a trusted partner in law enforcement that’s revolutionizing how criminal record checks are processed, offering the only end-to-end record request workflow solution on the market.

If you’re considering upgrading your system, you might already know about Agile Records and how it could impact your police service. In this post, we’ll explain why Agile Records stands out from the competition and how our system is designed with the specific needs of police services in mind.

The Difference: Automation That Transforms Police Services

Let’s start with the core of what sets Agile Records apart: we automate the police record request service itself, not just the front-end experience for applicants.

While many competitors offer an online presence where applicants can submit their record check requests, the bulk of the processing still falls on the police staff. Competitors provide a hosted dashboard for managing incoming requests, but police still need to manually process each response, entering data across multiple systems.

At Agile Records, we’re different. Our system is fully integrated with police workflows, handling the process end-to-end, which minimizes data entry and automates critical steps. 

This means:

• No manual data entry: Police staff no longer need to manually enter information across systems. Our system automatically allocates requests, processes multi-query options across naming conventions, and provides real-time updates to applicants.
• Automated decision-making: Query results are automatically analyzed, scored, and flagged, allowing police to focus on the cases that need human review, while everything else is processed seamlessly.

With Agile Records, your police service is fully in control of the entire workflow—from application to decision-making to result release.

Agile Records is easy to use, with lots of time savings and efficiencies gained from auto-querying of databases.

Record Unit manager, Ontario Municipal Police Service

Full Integration with RMS 

One of the most significant differences between Agile Records and its competitors is our integration with your internal police records management system (RMS). This integration enables us to pull from both local and national databases, including inter-jurisdictional queries, ensuring that all information is up-to-date and comprehensive.

Our competitors, on the other hand, often rely on systems that aren’t integrated with RMS due to security concerns. This means they can’t pull from local police data directly, limiting the scope of information available to you during the record check process.

“Police Eyes Only” – Data Ownership and Security

Perhaps most importantly, only the police see and own the requests. We do not store, access, or manage any request data on external servers. With competitors, sensitive public information is stored on third-party servers, which has raised privacy concerns and led to complaints to regulatory bodies like the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. Agile Records ensures your police service has full control of the data, maintaining the highest level of confidentiality and security.

We ensure that results are stored securely within police networks and can be released to applicants via digitally signed, tamper-proof documents. This guarantees that sensitive information remains safe throughout the process.

Conversely, many of our competitors require police to upload results to third-party FTP sites, where applicants then have to download their information. This increases the risk of data breaches, raises privacy concerns, and makes it harder to ensure the integrity of the results.

In-Person Requests Integrated Seamlessly

Another key differentiator is how Agile Records manages in-person requests. Not all criminal record check requests are done online, and many applicants still prefer or require in-person visits to police stations.

We are the only vendor offering an in-person workflow that harmonizes with online requests. This unified workflow makes it easy for police staff to manage both digital and in-person requests efficiently, without needing separate systems or processes. Our competitors, by contrast, leave in-person requests up to the police service, which can result in a fragmented workflow and inconsistent data handling.

Automated Workflow for Criminal Record “Hits”

Handling a “no hit” result is straightforward for most systems, but when a criminal record is detected, the process becomes far more complex. At Agile Records, we’ve developed a solution that automates both no hit and hit workflows.

This means when a criminal record is flagged, the system automates the disclosure process, saving your staff significant time. Our competitors, however, leave hit results to be manually processed by police staff, adding a layer of inefficiency and potentially leading to delays.

Fingerprinting and Scheduling: A Fully Integrated System

When a criminal record check requires fingerprinting or additional verification, it often leads to delays and complicated scheduling logistics. Agile Records solves this by offering built-in fingerprint and appointment scheduling. Applicants can seamlessly schedule in-person visits to complete the process, fully integrated with the record check workflow.

Most competitors don’t offer this functionality, leaving police services to manage these appointments manually, often resulting in mismatched data and uncoordinated workflows.

Tailored Solutions for Each Police Service

No two police services operate in exactly the same way. That’s why we’ve designed Agile Records to be highly configurable, with over 700 customizable components. We tailor our solution to meet the specific needs and workflows of each police service, while still adhering to provincial standards.

In contrast, our competitors often use a one-size-fits-all approach, which doesn’t account for the unique internal processes of each police service. This lack of customization can lead to inefficiencies and a system that feels more like a burden than a benefit.

Help Desk Support

Agile Records support is responsive and quick to resolve any concerns or answer questions.

Police Records Specialist, Ontario Municipal Police Service

Finally, Agile Records offers a full help desk for both the public and police services. Our tier 1 technical support handles general inquiries from the public, while tier 2 support is reserved for police staff to escalate more complex issues. We record all inquiries and provide complete transparency in how requests are handled.

With competitors, most support requests—both technical and status-related—are left for the police service to handle, adding extra strain on internal resources.

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At Agile Records, we’re proud to be the solution trusted by police services across Canada. Our focus on automation, security, and customization makes us uniquely positioned to meet the growing demands of today’s criminal record check processes, while safeguarding the integrity of sensitive data. If you’re ready to transform how your police service handles record checks, contact Agile Records to book an introductory demo!