The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is looking for an IT supplier to manage its computer network in a five-year contract worth £100m.
Covering the maintenance of the PSNI’s communications network, and support for 6,500 desktop and laptop PCs, the deal is designed to support the needs of frontline police officers.
The contract would end the force’s reliance on a network of small technology suppliers, says PSNI assistant chief constable Roy Toner.
‘We are in the classic historical scenario of managed services in little pots,’ he said. ‘It is an old way of doing business, the new contract will bring everything together and bring it into line with our information strategy.’
Using a single provider will allow the PSNI to manage IT costs better, says Toner.
‘We want to show we can build in efficiency savings, and there will be very tight parameters around system specifications, a lot tighter than we have been in the past,’ he said.
Alongside high-tech communication systems, the contractor will manage the PSNI’s mobile number plate recognition camera system and support a mobile data project for delivering more information to officers.
Toner says the PSNI has an ambitious IT programme, with a lot of exciting technology expected over the next five years.
‘Policing all over the world is the same, it is labour-intensive and it is information-driven. IT gives officers access to vast quantities of data on the ground, where they need it,’ he said.
‘We have only scratched the surface of how we can exploit IT for policing.’
The PSNI has been one of the leading UK forces in exploiting new technology, says Henry Brysh, consultant at local government user group Socitm.
‘It has not been afraid to do bold things with technology, and be more independent than mainland forces in the way it goes about it,’ he said.
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