Artificial intelligence tools will be rolled out to all police forces to tackle grooming gangs .

Officers across all 43 forces in England and Wales will gain access to the investigative technology as part of a £426,000 funding boost for the Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) programme.

The intelligence and technical experts support forces investigating complex cases such as organised exploitation of modern slavery, county lines and child sex abuse.

Some 13 forces currently have access to their apps, which are said to have been used 12,500 times – saving more than £20 million and 16,000 hours for investigators.

The expansion, announced by the Home Office , comes after Baroness Casey recommended a national police operation to review cold cases, in her rapid audit on groom

See Full Page