Correspondence

Commissioning letter 2026/2027

Published 9 October 2026

STEAC_26_09_30 – V1

Home Office  
2 Marsham Street  
London, SW1P 4DF  

www.gov.uk/home-office

30/09/2026

Dear Professor Richard Guest,

Commissioning letter 2026/2027

I would like to start by thanking you and the other members of the Science and Technology Ethics Advisory Committee (STEAC) for your contribution to Home Office policy development over the past 18 months.

Since September 2025, there have been significant changes to STEAC beginning with a name change from the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Advisory Group (BFEG) to STEAC shortly after your appointment as chair. This was quickly followed by a remit review for the committee, which focused on ensuring it was fit for purpose and supports my commitment as Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) to enable greater engagement between the Home Office Science Advisory Committees and their stakeholders. These changes are part of our wider strategy to better incorporate independent scientific advice from STEAC and the wider Science Advisory Committees into Home Office Policy.

As part of this review process, I would like to confirm the sponsorship structure for STEAC. Lord Hanson will remain as the Ministerial Sponsor of the committee but going forward, I, as CSA, am pleased to be the overall official sponsor for the committee to better reflect the wider engagement and utilisation of my science advisory committees. Operational delivery will continue to be undertaken by the STEAC Secretariat, and supported by myself, the Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, and the Science Advice Delivery team.

This calendar year, we would like STEAC to note the following priorities:

Ethics

• Engaging with the Home Office Ethics Adviser and Director General Homeland Security Group, and their team to continue the integrated approach of ethics delivery within the Home Office.
• Continue to provide critical friend independent advice, challenge, and support to commissioning and engagement requests for projects and initiatives for the Home Office and its stakeholders.

Science and Technology

• Provide advice to Data & Technology Policy & Strategy on the Legislative framework for law enforcement biometrics and overt surveillance. This would also include contributing to the development of the Code of Practice.
• Support Police use of facial recognition and implementation plans.
• Support the delivery priorities for Forensics where needed
• Support the FAE QAA Board. Ensure delegated representation on the Forensic Information Databases Services (FINDS) Strategy Board as outlined in the STEAC Terms of Reference.
• Support policing AI delivery and restructuring proposals as a result of the Policing Reform White Paper.
• Utilise the insights of the STEAC themed leads (focused on areas such as AI, Policing, Horizon Scanning, etc.) to generate self-determined work.

Science Advisory Committees

• Stronger integration of science advice and support with the Home Office Science Advisory Council (HOSAC) and the other science advisory committees especially regarding AI and other emerging technology.
• Undertake bespoke projects as and when directed via the Deputy Chief Science Adviser or the Chief Science Adviser. These include:
  • Public trust, legitimacy and explainability in operational science and technology
  • Ethical questions in detection technologies
  • Privacy-enhancing technologies and responsible data sharing
  • Horizon scanning for ethically significant emerging technologies
• Ongoing participation in relevant governance forums.

Additionally, I would like STEAC to propose areas to focus on for their 30% self-commissioned work with the expectation that we will decide together which of these projects to take forward this year. STEAC’s self-determined work is typically 30%, but I am content for this to increase this year if it supports or develops departmental priorities. I am keen that this encourages work that addresses emerging risks and opportunities and I am happy to discuss this further in a future discussion.

I would like to reiterate my appreciation for STEAC’s work so far, and I look forward to working with you again this year.

Yours sincerely,  

Professor Brooke Rogers OBE 

Home Office Chief Scientific Adviser