Staffordshire Police has announced that it has become the first force in the Midlands region to introduce Bobbi, a new AI-powered virtual assistant.

Bobbi is designed to help with non-emergency, first contact queries, as part of a year-long pilot scheme within the force.

Staffordshire Police said that the technology cannot be used to report a crime, and it is not replacing the 999 emergency line.

The police force said the virtual assistant, which is built into the Live Chat facility on their website, aims to make it "easier and faster for you to get answers to common questions".

Using the same information that call handlers rely on, Bobbi can provide " quick, bespoke answers" for people seeking advice, guidance, or signposting.

The virtual assistant will act as an additional service to the public alongside online forms, telephone lines and front counters. If Bobbi can't answer a question, it will connect the user to a human member of the team.

Chief Superintendent Matt Morgan, who is head of our contact centre, said: "This is an exciting development for the force.

"It is hoped that the investment in this technology will continue to help us to respond more quickly to everyone who contacts us with a non-emergency query.

"The virtual assistant is not replacing human call handlers but offers an additional service to the public.

"The introduction of Bobbi is part of our ongoing investment in our contact centre to continue to improve our response times and make sure everyone who contacts us gets a timely and appropriate response."

The police force said it is introducing the scheme to provide "faster answers and clearer guidance" on non-emergencies; to reduce waiting times on 101, freeing up call handlers to focus on complex and serious cases; and to use technology effectively as part of their policing plan and digital strategy.

Staffordshire Police also shared the following "important" information regarding the new virtual assistant: "Bobbi is for non-emergency queries only. If a crime is in progress or you need urgent help, always call 999.

"If your query is complex or sensitive, Bobbi will refer you to a human colleague.

"This is a 12-month trial, and our experienced staff will continue to train Bobbi, stay up-to-date with legislation and policies, and evolve in line with the needs of our communities."

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams, said: "As Commissioner, a key priority in my Police & Crime Plan has always been investing in improving contact and reducing waiting times, so people's questions and concerns can be addressed as quickly as possible.

"By allowing the force to process everyday queries more efficiently, Bobbi is designed to free up call handlers to deal with the more sensitive, complex calls that need a human approach.

"I look forward to seeing the results of this 12-month trial."

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "Any data you share during your chat with Bobbi will remain private and confidential and will not be used outside of Staffordshire Police."