North Wales Police tests quantum computing to slash response times
North Wales Police has trialled the use of quantum computing to help cut the time it takes officers to respond to emergencies.
In a project tech firm D-Wave, the force tested a new “hybrid-quantum” system designed to work out where patrol cars should be positioned across the region.
The aim is to make sure officers are in the right place at the right time, so they can reach serious incidents more quickly.
The test showed promising results, with average response times cut by nearly half compared to the force’s existing system.
Calculations that used to take four months to run on conventional systems were completed in just four minutes, giving officers the chance to adapt deployment strategies in near real time.
North Wales Police say the system could help them meet targets to reach at least 90% of incidents within set response times.
Alistair Hughes, who leads on analytics and AI for the force, said:
“A reduction in response time can reduce crime, reduce offence escalation and increase public confidence. We believe this technology could be scaled nationally to save time, reduce costs, improve outcomes, and lower our carbon footprint.”
The trial was funded through the UK Policing’s National Science and Innovation Board and has since been highlighted by the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser for Policing as a project of national interest. That recognition means it could be developed further and shared across other forces.
D-Wave, headquartered in Silicon Valley but originally founded in Canada, worked with North Wales Police to apply its system to a uniquely UK problem — how to get officers to emergencies faster across a wide geography and under demanding constraints such as staffing and varying incident types.
Dr Alan Baratz, chief executive of D-Wave, said the project shows how quantum computing can be used on “real-world problems” such as public safety.
“As police forces increasingly rely on data-driven strategies to improve response times and coverage, hybrid-quantum computing can offer the speed, precision, and intelligence needed to identify optimal officer placements and enhance public safety.” He said.
Dr Baratz added: “Hybrid-quantum computing is beginning to show real-world potential across private and public sectors, and we’re thrilled to see the potential for it to make a meaningful impact in forward deployment with North Wales Police.”
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