City Police to Launch New Asset Recovery Technology (ARIT) in September 2027
City of London Police are set to bolster their efforts in recovering assets from criminals with the upcoming launch of a new technology system, the Asset Recovery and Immobilisation Technology (ARIT), scheduled to go live in September 2027. ARIT will replace the current Joint Asset Recovery Database (JARD) system, which is nearing the end of its lifecycle and will no longer be hosted beyond September 2027.
The Economic Security and Cyber Crime Committee received an update on the progress of ARIT, a system designed to serve the needs of 183 different agencies, including policing, local authorities, and the court service. The transition to ARIT is a significant undertaking, involving the Police Digital Service with the Home Office as a key stakeholder.
A key focus for ARIT will be its ability to accurately record cryptocurrency transactions. This enhancement is particularly important as law enforcement is observing a significant shift over time in laundered proceeds going through crypto rather than through kind of traditional currency routes.
ARIT is expected to improve upon existing methods by addressing challenges related to the accuracy of data and ensuring it is fit for purpose in recording these digital asset transactions.
While ARIT is expected to launch with a minimum viable product, a roadmap is in place for further functionality development over the six months following its release. This includes building out additional desired features as outlined in the project's roadmap.
A significant challenge associated with the transition to ARIT is the complexity of building a system that meets the needs of such a diverse range of agencies. Additionally, ensuring appropriate levels of vetting for users across all participating agencies, which are not currently uniform compared to policing standards, is an ongoing task. The phased rollout, starting with a minimum viable product and a subsequent development roadmap, along with the collaboration between the police digital service, the Home Office, and wider partners, are key mitigation strategies for these challenges.
For more details on the committee's discussions, refer to the Public reports pack for the Economic Security and Cyber Crime Committee meeting on 01st October 2026.