Police In-Vehicle and Handheld Mobile Data via Private and Public Carrier

SUPERINTENDENT LANCE MARTIN

Overview

• Overview of WA Police• Overall Communications Program of Work• Challenges in implementing mobile data• WA Police approach• Benefits• Next steps

WA Police Overview

The Western Australia Police (WAPOL) is the world’s largest by area single police jurisdiction– Comprises 5,000 police officers and 1,000 civilian support staff– Operates over 1,100 vehicles– Covers an area of almost 2.5 million square kilometres– Serves a community of over 2 million residents

Organisational structure– Metropolitan Region– Regional WA

– 14 districts – 162 police stations

Overall Program of Work

WA comparison to other States

WA

NT

WA

QLD

WA

SA

WA

NSW

VIC

TAS

WA ~ 1.5 x QLD

WA ~ 1.9 x NT

WA ~ 2.3 x NSW,VIC,TAS Combined Area

(3.2 x NSW, 11.1 x VIC, 39.2 x TAS)

WA ~ 2.6 x SA

WA Comparison

Land Area (sq km)

WA - 2,526,786

Texas - 678,054

UK - 241,590

WA

TEXAS

WA

UK

Challenges

• Western Australia Police have implemented an in-vehicle mobile data solution (TADIS) to 450 metropolitan based vehicles via a Police privately owned data network over the greater metro area. (approximately 10 000 square km and currently being doubled).

• This system provides Police access to state and national inquiries, mug shots, full tasking information, vehicle tracking, electronic mapping and floor plans.

• The private data network, whilst efficient in higher population, more localised areas, was not cost effective for state wide implementation.

• In addition the private network did not support handheld mobile data devices.

Handheld mobile data - Approach

• Police had trialed a Telco based network to supplement the existing privately owned data network

– Telco connectivity via Police firewalls and message switch was proven.

– TADISLite was based on same client (Motorola PDMC) as TADIS

– Existent functionality tailored to a handheld device

• Trial with project police in operational environment, then operational trial with select users.

– Project police officers worked with operational trial users to enhance business processes.

– Managed process to gain feedback on design

– Quick turn around on enhancements

– Approximately 4 releases over 6 weeks.

– Less keying, more hyperlinks

TADISLite – Tasking and Data Information System

• Frontline Police focused tool.

– Full CAD Dispatching and records

– Status Updates

– GPS Location Reporting

– All “Of interest Queries” – names, mug shots, vehicles, addresses, firearms etc

– Bail Act information

– CrimTrac national searches

TADISLite - Security and Supportability

To ensure operational viability state wide, the following infrastructure was established: •Roaming Server

– A dedicated VPN implemented, with VPN persistence, connection authentication, encryption and Network Management tools

• Additional Firewall Server – Improves the management and protection of back-end infrastructure from malicious

attacks

• GPS Locator Server – Cadence Changes and Polling

• Improved Mobility Service Platform – Stage and provision devices– Manage and deploy software updates – – Ethernet to battery chargers– Stun lost or stolen devices– Device reporting (Status etc)

TADISLite - Current Application

Police have implemented 225 TADISLite state wide with the following uses:•Mobile data access for foot patrols, canine units, mounted units and bike patrols.•Motorcycle patrols and drug and breathalyser buses.•Crime investigations where mobile data access is required away from the vehicle.•Replacement of in-vehicle mobile data for marginal users.•Fast tracking mobile data into remote areas impacted by the logistics of a vehicle installation.

TADISLite – Potential enhancements

WA Police are committed to enhancing the handheld mobile data:• Infringements

– Drug– Liquor – Traffic

• General Policing– Telephony– Data Entry of simple offences– Field reports– Move on notices– Mapping

A “LiteR” version for general issue is currently under investigation.

Regional TADIS

• WA Police intend to standardise the provision of mobile data state wide.

• Whilst Police has a private data network over the greater metropolitan area, the cost of providing a privately owned network was prohibitive.

• As a result, a project to provide 300+ TADIS in regional WA via a public carrier has commenced.

• Currently 100 vehicles have been implemented with the full rollout by December 2010.

• Persistent data / AVL roaming and transmission over disparate transport layers to the CAD was a major technical challenge.

Much of the security and supportability applied to the TADISLite applies to the Regional TADIS with some exceptions:•The size of the electronic mapping and floor plans is too large for “over the air” updating. As a result files are updated when a new vehicle is commissioned (6-12 month cycle) •A device failure in a regional locations requires more in-depth analysis and remote diagnostics to reduce the travel overhead.•The installation of equipment must survive the harshest environments for 12 months, requiring a robust installation.•Contracts are required for limited local regional support via private contractors.

Regional TADIS- Security and Supportability

Benefits

The introduction of mobile data in regional Western Australia is revolutionising Police operations.•The location of officers in vehicles and on foot is provided by the GPS, increasing officer safety and accountability.•Access to real time information on people, addresses and vehicles contributes to improved investigations and officer awareness of the “environment”. In some divisions these inquires have increased 25 fold over voice. •The ability to centrally dispatch via data from the Police Operations Centre standardises operations state wide, provides a level redundancy in poor radio coverage areas, and human resource benefits.

The use of mobile data puts the right officer at the right place with the information to “do the job right”.

Next Steps

• The WA Police have currently sized their mobile data infrastructure to support 2000 simultaneous mobile data connections.

• Whilst the mobile applications, both in vehicle and hand held, will continue to be enhanced with other functionality there will be a steady increase in the number of handheld devices.

• The ability to integrate these mobile data devices to serve a broader range of police activities will be a focal point in the coming months.

Questions ?

Lance Martin APMSuperintendentCommunications Infrastructure ProgramWestern Australia Police