Lincolnshire Police automates traffic notices with Quadient

Quadient has partnered with Lincolnshire Police to automate the force's road safety and traffic enforcement communications. The project covers notices of intended prosecution and related correspondence handled by the Central Ticket Office.

Lincolnshire Police has replaced manual, print-based processes with a single automated workflow for preparing and sending communications linked to traffic enforcement cases. The system handles both physical and digital correspondence and is intended to improve consistency, auditability and the timing of notices.

The change follows a period in which the force's existing print infrastructure was nearing the end of its useful life. At the same time, Lincolnshire Police was dealing with rising communication volumes and sought a way to maintain continuity and compliance without relying on internal printing.

According to Quadient, the new setup has freed operational capacity equivalent to four employees each month. The force is using that time for other road safety enforcement work, while office space previously used for printing has also been released.

Communications are a significant part of traffic enforcement because notices and prosecution-related documents must be issued accurately and within statutory deadlines. Delays or errors can affect whether cases proceed, making administration a practical concern for police forces managing high volumes.

The two organisations moved from agreement to live operation within a matter of months. Lincolnshire Police now manages its communications through what Quadient describes as a governed workflow designed to preserve evidential and statutory requirements.

Next phase

Attention has now shifted to prosecution file preparation. Lincolnshire Police is piloting robotic process automation, machine learning and agentic AI to automate parts of that work while keeping operational decisions under human oversight.

The pilot is focused on reducing manual handling in case preparation and making better use of court capacity. It is also intended to lower the risk of prosecutions being delayed or lost because of administrative bottlenecks.

The use of automation and AI in policing administration is becoming more common as forces face pressure to manage workloads with limited staff and budgets. Much of that work sits behind frontline activity, but it affects how quickly officers and specialist teams can move cases through formal processes.

For Lincolnshire Police, the immediate aim is not to automate decision-making but to reduce repetitive back-office work. That distinction is increasingly important for public sector bodies adopting AI tools, particularly in areas that can lead to legal action or court proceedings.

The Traffic Process Unit Manager at Lincolnshire Police outlined the operational effect of the changes.

"Modernising our communications has enabled us to build a more resilient and efficient operation that supports our road safety objectives. By reducing administrative complexity, our teams can focus more of their time on activities that contribute directly to safer roads and better outcomes for the communities we serve," said the Traffic Process Unit Manager at Lincolnshire Police.

Quadient, which provides software and automation tools for communications and related business processes, said its work with Lincolnshire Police reflects broader demand from public bodies seeking to replace ageing manual systems. Police forces in particular often manage large volumes of notices, letters and supporting documents that still rely on labour-intensive printing and mailing processes.

Duncan Groom, Chief Solutions Officer, Mail, at Quadient, said police services are under pressure to update core administrative functions while using resources carefully.

"Police forces are under increasing pressure to modernise essential services while making the best use of available resources. By combining intelligent communications automation with governed workflows, we help organisations simplify complex processes, strengthen resilience and create a foundation for future innovation, including the responsible adoption of technologies such as agentic AI," said Groom.