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Police Digital Service selects NEC Software Solutions UK Limited to deliver next-generation Asset Recovery IT system

The Police Digital Service (PDS) has officially appointed NEC Software Solutions UK Limited (NECSWS) to develop the new Asset Recovery IT (ARIT) system. This marks a significant milestone in the ambition to replace the Joint Asset Recovery Database (JARD) and strengthen the UK’s capability to investigate economic crime and recover criminal assets more effectively.    

ARIT will replace JARD legacy technology with a secure, scalable, cloud-based platform, designed to meet the evolving needs of law enforcement, government, and local authorities. This is a crucial step forward to fulfil the commitments set out in the Economic Crime Plan 2 to support improved criminal asset recovery through technology. 

The initial version of ARIT will provide improved ways to work with international cases and cryptocurrency assets. Future releases are planned to support international and cryptocurrency recovery capabilities, helping over 3,500 users to manage investigations related to recovery assets held abroad or in digital currencies. This will strengthen the UK’s collective ability to respond to the growing complexity of economic crime and the globalised nature of illicit finance networks. 

Tony Eastaugh CBE, CEO at the Police Digital Service said: “ARIT represents a bold step forward in our mission to equip UK law enforcement with the digital tools needed to tackle the evolving threat of economic crime. This project is a testament to the impact of collaboration and innovation in public service, and I’m proud of the role PDS is playing in delivering a solution that helps safeguard communities and ensure that crime doesn’t pay.”
 

ARIT will deliver a range of benefits aligned with the priorities of modern policing and public sector transformation: 

  • Reduced costs through centralised infrastructure and streamlined operations.  
  • Improved productivity thanks to a stable, reliable, and user-friendly platform that supports daily casework.  
  • Increased sustainability by retiring a legacy database and adopting modern digital tools that can easily integrate with other systems. 
  • Enhanced security through Secure by Design principles for robust authentication and protection.  
  • Smarter data management by leveraging a well-developed data ecosystem for better insights and decision-making. 

Nik Adams, National Coordinator for Economic and Cyber Crime and NPCC Lead for Financial Investigation and Asset Recovery said: “ARIT is a major operational upgrade that will enhance law enforcement ability to recover criminal assets, disrupt organised crime, and protect communities. ARIT will also help forecast future returns, ensuring recovered funds are reinvested where they matter most – supporting victims and delivering justice.” 

ARIT will allow law enforcement agencies across the UK to manage the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme within a single system, thus streamlining the retention and reinvestment of recovered funds. These funds could be used to open a youth centre, compensate victims of fraud, or start a financial education programme, improving public trust in the justice system. 

Rachael Herbert, Director of the National Economic Crime Centre said: “Taking illicit assets from criminals disrupts serious and organised crime, cutting off funding for harmful activities, such as fraud and organised immigration crime. ARIT will strengthen our collective response, helping us stop criminals profiting from their actions.” 

The successful appointment of NECSWS is the result of a comprehensive and compliant evaluation, supported by PDS subject matter experts and JARD users across over 180 agencies and organisations in policing, law enforcement, and government.  

NECSWS will soon start to work alongside the ARIT Project Team and experts from across the sector to co-develop an initial version of the solution. Development will run into 2026, shaped by iterative delivery, testing, and frontline validation. 

Marco Fiorentino, Executive Director at NEC Software Solutions, said: “ARIT will make it easier for users to log and track evidence. Whether it’s police recording seized vehicles, investigators tracing suspicious payments, or council officers tackling illegal trading, everything can be captured quickly and clearly. That means faster action, stronger evidence, and a better chance of stopping criminals.” 

To learn more about ARIT, visit our page: Asset Recovery IT – Police Digital Service 

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