Announcing the first UK government Forward Deployed Engineers
This week, the Ministry of Justice took a major step in how digital and AI services are built for the public sector by introducing the first ever Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) in UK government.
These engineers will work directly on the frontline of justice, embedded in prisons, probation offices and courts across the country. They will design and build solutions with the people who deliver our services every day, not just for them.
A new model for public sector engineering
For years, public sector technology has often been built at a distance from the environments it serves. Sometimes that means through layers of intermediaries, user researchers, service designers and workshops. All of that has its place, but nothing beats an engineer being there in person to witness the problems first-hand.
Forward Deployed Engineers spend time on site, shoulder to shoulder with prison officers, probation staff and court clerks, understanding daily challenges, testing prototypes and iterating quickly. Their goal is to build winning products that save time, reduce admin burden and improve experiences for both staff and citizens.
FDEs engaging with probation officers in a probation office.
By placing coders on site, we shorten the distance between problem and solution and make sure innovation starts where the need is felt most.
Why this matters
The justice system is one of the most complex operational networks in the country. Staff work under immense pressure to keep people safe, deliver fair outcomes and support rehabilitation.
When engineers see for themselves how a probation officer juggles 15 systems to write one report, or how a prison officer spends hours entering data that could be automated, they build differently. They build with empathy. They build with urgency. They build things that actually work.
A first for government
This is the first time a UK government department has deployed software engineers in this way. They will be based directly in operational environments. It marks a big change in how we design and deliver technology for public services.
The three engineers, Francis Webb, Elliott Phillips and Thomas Horrobin, join the Justice AI Unit, a team dedicated to applying practical, responsible AI and modern engineering to improve how justice is delivered across the system.
The first Forward Deployed Engineers in UK government.
What comes next
Over the coming months, the FDEs will work with colleagues across courts, prisons and probation to spot where simple fixes, ingenious innovations or smarter tools could make a real difference.
Their work will inform the next generation of AI-enabled tools being developed by the Justice AI Unit. These tools will save time, reduce risk and allow frontline professionals to focus on what really matters - supporting people and delivering justice.
Justice AI Unit team on the ground at HMP Elmley.
A step forward for practical AI in government
The introduction of Forward Deployed Engineers requires a shift in mindset, from government technology as a consultancy-like service to technology as an equal partner in solving real operational challenges.
It’s a small team today, but one with big ambitions to set a new standard for how engineering is done in the public sector.
Welcome to the team, Francis, Elliott and Thomas.