This in from the police, in their own words. Ed
The force bid for a total of £1.1 million for five separate initiatives and was successful in each of them, receiving the full amount. The bid was submitted by Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes in December.
The Police Innovation Fund is held by the Home Office and available to police forces across England and Wales to enhance and improve the use of technology in the detection and investigation of crime.
Chief Constable Andy Marsh said:
“I am extremely pleased that we have been awarded £1.1 million from the £20 million available to be bid for by police forces across England and Wales.
“This amount is clear recognition of our force’s growing reputation for innovation and improving policing through maximising the use of modern technology.
“Amongst many other ground-breaking initiatives, the funding will allow us to further roll out use of Body Worn Video to all of our frontline uniformed officers, keeping us at the cutting edge of this technology – not just in Britain – but anywhere in the world.
“As well as being very welcome news – this commitment by Government is recognition of the massive benefit body-worn video offers in terms of using digital images to protect the public and bring offenders to justice as well as promoting transparency and confidence in policing
“It will also support our aim to improve and evolve our management of criminal case files through use of Digital Case File technology, which will benefit officers, our partners in the Crown Prosecution Service, and, vitally, enable us to further focus on the Police and Crime Commissioners priority of improving the quality of service to victims of crime.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, Simon Hayes added:
“I am delighted that the Government has accepted my bid and agreed to allocate vital funding – especially in view of the continuing governmental budgetary cuts to policing.
“This funding endorses my decision in March 2013 to fund the initial Isle of Wight pilot project and the subsequent roll-out to all Targeted Patrol Teams across the force.
“Body-worn video provides an additional resource that supports officers in gathering accurate and irrefutable evidence in certain situations where it might otherwise be lost. It also makes officers more efficient and accountable to the public in the many challenging situations they face daily.
“The continual investment in latest technology provides greater opportunities for officers to work away from land bases. This allows us to sell old, costly to maintain, and unfit for purpose police stations, and work from shared accommodation with partners.
“Collaborative working will become fundamental to the way in which public services are delivered in the future and work is already well advanced on this, while the additional funding from the Innovation Grant enables us to continue in this direction.”
The successful bids
- To develop a ground-breaking Integrated Business Centre, which enables effective and efficient joint working between the constabulary, Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service and Hampshire County Council in the areas of Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, Estate and Occupational Health. There is further ongoing work to deliver joint services for more support functions in the future.
- To help establish co-located multi-agency Safer Neighbourhood Team bases, which will enable much more joined up, effective and efficient service to people and communities through an enhanced neighbourhood policing service.
- To enable development of a Digital Case File (DCF) solution will meet national requirements for delivering electronic case files to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). This will provide us with the ability to capture digital data once and share via DCF, thus eliminating duplication and bureaucracy and improve case building processes for all partners in the Criminal Justice system.
- To improve mobile data provision to all officers, including tablet computers which will help officers, staff and Police Community Support Officers to access all the systems they need whilst patrolling. This will increase officer visibility amongst the communities and give the Constabulary the best equipment available to improve policing services and protect the public
- To enable roll out of body worn video technology to all uniformed officers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
- The final bid was jointly made with Thames Valley Police to improve, enhance and develop multiple channels for customer contact, giving the public more ways to access our services and giving us a better understanding of their needs.
The force has also made bids for the Innovation Fund for 2014/15, and awaits the outcome.
Image: Images of Money under CC BY 2.0
