Single digital identities for police officers and criminal justice system workers came a step closer this week as procurement started for an identity and access management system.

The smartcard-based project will give workers single sign-on access to systems such as the police national database and prisoner management systems.

The tender from the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) comes after a previous project, known as Unified Police Security Architecture was cancelled.

A digital identity for every police officer was mandated by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in 2006, with the original scheme due for completion by April 2007. The NPIA cancelled the project after a review of the technology. The new contracts are due to be awarded by February 2009, with the system to go live in late 2009.