This Is Why Should the police ban the use of AI?
Feb 24, 2026
Rob Harris, Sky News sports correspondent who exposed police use of Microsoft Copilot, explains how AI errors influenced a high-profile football ban. He traces the phantom intelligence that justified the decision. He reveals how many forces still use Copilot, compares versions, and discusses the strain between convenience and public trust in policing.
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Phantom Match From Copilot Undid West Midlands Ban
- West Midlands Police used an intelligence document citing a 2023 West Ham vs Maccabi match that never happened.
- Rob Harris describes that the fabricated “phantom match” came from Microsoft Copilot and undermined the ban decision's evidence.
Patchwork Police Use Of Copilot Across England
- At least 21 English forces reported using Microsoft Copilot while others, including Police Scotland, banned AI tools.
- Rob Harris found a fragmented, inconsistent national approach with big forces like Greater Manchester promoting AI use.
Enterprise Versus Free Copilot Produces Different Outputs
- Different Copilot versions produce different results: enterprise 365 gives more vetted links while free Copilot Chat mixed reputable and partisan sources.
- Rob compared answers: enterprise said 'no' to labelling Maccabi fans hooligans; free chat weighted toward hooligan claims.