Police to take softly-softly approach to integration

Barker: Senior engagement is vital

Proposals to mandate police forces to buy compatible IT systems will only be used as a last resort, according to the new head of a scheme to co-ordinate technology at the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA).

The scheme­ known as the Information Systems Improvement Strategy (ISIS) ­ aims to develop interoperable IT systems in all 43 police constabularies in England and Wales to help with the sharing of information between forces.

A recent report by Jan Berry, former head of the Police Federation, found that progress in implementing the programme has been slow, and a policing green paper last year said it was appropriate for the government to mandate forces to take part.

But Andy Barker, the new ISIS programme director, hopes this will not be necessary, though he did not rule out the possibility.

“Given the high level of support we have at the moment it is unlikely such legislation will be used,” he told Computing.

The aim is to have a common architecture ­ a combination of interoperable standards and applications ­ for police IT systems by 2015, as well as co-ordinating procurement to gain economies of scale.

Barker admitted his task was a difficult one ­ not least because there is no central funding and he must persuade local forces to spend their budgets in a certain way.
“Everyone can see that strategically this is a good thing,” he said. “The challenge is going to be maintaining that support throughout delivery.”

The key is engaging and maintaining support from senior officers, said Barker. So far that support has been forthcoming, but it will become harder ­ especially with increasing budgetary constraints on police forces in the years ahead.

“At some stage someone is going to have to buy something they would not buy otherwise ­ what’s important for the Metropolitan Police might not be important for a rural force ­ and that is where support at a senior level is vital,” he said.

Barker also said it is likely the Police National Network, which is used for secure communication between forces, will have to be improved ­ probably some time after 2010.