Tackling crime with technology

Metropolitan Police tablet pilot creates mobile office for officers on the beat with Vodafone 4G

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Superintendent Adrian HutchinsonPolice Lead for Mobile Technology

It cannot be right in the 21st century that officers turn up with a pen and a little notebook. It doesn’t project the image of a modern, informed crime fighting operation.

Modern and mobile

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) employs 31,400 officers together with around 11,500 police staff and 1,900 Community Support Officers. It is the largest police service in the UK, covering a population of 8.5 million.

The MPS aspires to be the most modern police force. It wants to employ mobile technology to provide a better service to the public by cutting administration time and freeing up officers to spend more time on the streets.Doing so will help tackle crime and boost public confidence. The challenge is to create an end-to-end solution, one that permeates the entire service.

ChallengeAllow officers to access necessary

applications and systems remotely

Boost confidence in effective policing

among the public and the service

Improve visibility of community policing

Create the roadmap to become the

world’s first digital police service

BenefitsSaves an estimated one hour per day for

community officers, reducing the need to

return to station

Positive response to the tablets from

officers and the public, with minimal user

training required

Consolidated billing and real-time ordering,

improving service management

Pilot SolutionPilot Apple iPad mini with ultrafast

Vodafone 4G

Vodafone Secure Device Management with

AirWatch ensures device and data security

Enterprise on boarding

Vodafone UK Metropolitan Police Service

Vodafone UK Metropolitan Police Service

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is the UK’s largest police service. It also aspires to be the most modern.

“We’d like to be the world’s first truly digital police force,” says Commander Stephen Watson,TP - Crime, Criminal Justice, Roads and Transport Policing, MPS. “That’s the vision.”

To that end, the MPS has created a Total Technology Programme to examine how technology can be used throughout the organisation. Mobility is a key part of the programme and the MPS wants to transform its deskbound systems to enable officers to be out of the office, policing in the community.

“We don’t want officers having to return to the station to file reports or check information.The street is their office,” says Superintendent Adrian Hutchinson, Police Lead for Mobile Technology, MPS. “For that to happen theyneed full access to all the necessary applications and systems.

“We have three objectives,” says Superintendent Adrian Hutchinson: “Reassure the public, fight crime and increase confidence. It cannot be right in the 21st century that officers turn up with a pen and a little notebook. It doesn’t project the image of a modern, informed crime fighting operation. Many of our officers are already digitally aware. Coming into work has been a step back compared to their home lives.”

“We’ve looked at the take-up of technology in many other police forces, here and overseas,” says Commander Stephen Watson.

“Many have brought in some great hardware only to find problems integrating it with systems or processes within the organisation. Our emphasis is on the entire picture.”

Therefore, the MPS wanted a mobile solution capable of managing an extensive mobile hardware estate and keeping data on the devices secure was vital.

For the pilot, the MPS opted for the Apple iPad mini with applications available through a Met Police app store. Vodafone provides the 4G connectivity and Secure Device Manager, powered by AirWatch. Initially, the MPS trialled the solution with 450 officers in Hammersmith & Fulham, plus its specialist aviation units at Heathrow and City airports, along with its Sexual Exploitation Group. All devices were tagged and fully powered with pre-installed SIMs.

“We wanted to test across user groups sowe could use the feedback to inform anyfuture procurements,” says SuperintendentAdrian Hutchinson.

He says the MPS is happy to use a mix of commercial and bespoke applications: “We’ve consulted officers on the tools they need. Where there’s already a workable app commercially available, we’re happy to use it. There is value in the public seeing we’re using apps they’re familiar with. But some of our needs are unique. We’ve created four apps and have a further two in development.”

The pilot solution commenced deployment in July 2014 and Superintendent Adrian Hutchinson says the response has been positive, “Officers like using them and the public likes to see them.

“It reinforces the idea we are a modern, relevant police service. The vast majority of Londoners will never need to use our services, but it’s important we project a modern, capable image.”

He says training has been minimal: “Many officers haven’t needed it. The average age for recruits is mid-20s, they have their own tablets. Officers have buddied up to swap notes. We’ve certainly not needed formal classroom training, which tends to be the case with the roll-out of any new technology.”

It is early days but there is an expectation that officer mobility could mean an extra six hours per week out of the office, on the street. There should also be savings in travel, print, paper and, in the long term, real estate costs.

“Administration will continue to be part of policing,” says Superintendent Adrian Hutchinson, “but the user-interface we’ve developed for the tablets makes it easier and more intuitive.Plus, officers can take care of admin while they’re out of the office.”

In the first three months officers have uploaded more than 1,200 electronic statements using the Vodafone 4G network and issued 1,400 crime reports. For the first time, victims of crime receive a reference number immediately.

Anecdotally, the iPad mini with ultrafast 4G has been a hit. The Aviation Security unit have used the iTranslate app to help assist a stranded Korean passenger, and arrest a suspect trying to flee the country having been sent his passport photo. Hammersmith & Fulham officers have recorded audio statements and taken photo evidence on the spot. For both units, the iPad mini has helped tackle crime and allows officers to deliver a meaningful, immediate service to the public.

“Using tablet technology has to be the future,” says Commander Stephen Watson. “Traditionally you’ve contacted the police through 999 or 101. A fully digital service may have more self-service functions for the public, while allowing officers on the street to have access to all the systems they need.”

Superintendent Adrian Hutchinson says mobility promises to deliver the greatest organisational change in 20 years.

“It’s a cultural shift. We’re taking the best of policing from the past and bringing it up to date.”

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Using tablet technology has to be the future. Traditionally you’ve contacted the police through 999 or 101. A fully digital service may have more self-service functions for the public, while allowing officers on the street to have access to all the systems they need.

Commander Stephen Watson TP - Crime, Criminal Justice Roads and Transport Policing, MPS.

Pilot SolutioniPad with ultrafast 4G and Secure Device Management

BenefitsReinforcing the image of modern Policing

ChallengeCreating a digital police service