At least 21 police forces across England are continuing to use Microsoft's Copilot tool despite West Midlands Police blocking access after inaccurate information generated by the software was used to help justify banning Israeli football fans from a match in Birmingham. The force admitted that a fabricated match was included in an intelligence document, contributing to a major controversy that ultimately led to the departure of its chief constable.

Members of Parliament on the Home Affairs Select Committee have since raised further concerns after the tool produced incorrect claims about previous disorder linked to a match in Amsterdam. Only eight forces that responded to questions said Copilot cannot be used in investigations, including forces in Scotland and Northern Ireland, highlighting an inconsistent national approach.

Police leaders at the national level say the potential benefits of artificial intelligence outweigh the risks if used responsibly and with proper oversight, leaving decisions largely to individual forces. Some forces defend the technology as a way to speed up administrative work, while others restrict its use to non operational tasks such as human resources and corporate processes.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said there were significant shortcomings in how the technology was managed and stressed the need for lawful, ethical and properly regulated use. Microsoft said it continuously evaluates Copilot and encourages organisations to apply strong governance and review practices when using the system.