UK police to be equipped with Cable & Wireless' information solution
By siliconindia   |   Monday, 25 August 2008, 18:02 IST
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Bangalore: Cable & Wireless, one of the major communication companies, has announced that it has signed a three year framework agreement with the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) to offer an integrated, managed, mobile information solution for use by police forces across the UK, to equip officers with instant information when out on patrol. According to the agreement, Cable&Wireless will offer police forces an off-the-shelf managed solution, which includes software and hardware. The solution works by interfacing with force systems and applications, giving police officers access to vital information while they are out on the beat. The solution runs on handheld computers and works as a functional mobile computer unit. The solution is accessing and verifying information using the mobile information units, police officers can input and update information - such as criminal record checks - via their mobile computers. Officers out on the beat will now have access to core operational systems, reducing the amount of time they spend at the station completing lengthy administration duties. The system also allows for greater economies of scale as police forces can save money when purchasing multiple mobile information solutions. The acceleration package is available through the existing PNN3 framework, meaning that forces will not need to spend time and money on new competitive tender processes. The Prime Minister of UK had announced last year that at least 10,000 handheld computers would be made available to the police and operational by September this year. The Home Office responded by providing £50 million capital investment for the NPIA to support police services in delivering this pledge. More recently, an additional £25 million has been provided by government, allowing for a further 15,000 handheld computers to be used by police by March 2010. This will take the total up to around 30,000 devices.

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