Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Are tablet computers a 'costly distraction' for police? - Public Service

26 February 2013 The way in which the Metropolitan Police spends millions of pounds on iPad style tablet computers and other technology like fingerprint scanners and smartphones is to come under the scrutiny of London Assembly members.

A new review launched by the London Assembly's Budget and Performance Committee is to ask whether the Met should be spending money on technology like this to help officers work more effectively, or whether this spending is a "costly distraction".

The committee will examine the Met's technology strategy and how it can find technology savings of ?42m in 2014-15 and ?60m in the following year.

Assembly members want to explore how the force will use 30,000 new mobile devices to cut the time officers spend on paperwork, and whether this will free them up to spend more time on the beat.

"The Met is facing budget cuts of 20 per cent over the next three years and it is inevitable that technology spending is going to feel the squeeze, but it is clearly also the case that judicious investment in technology could improve productivity and be an aid to change," said committee chairman John Biggs.

"Whether it's backroom ICT support or the use of innovative new devices like smartphones or fingerprint scanners, the Met will need to ensure that it's getting the best value for money.

"We all know that big IT projects often have a habit of getting out of control and falling victim to unforeseen glitches, compatibility problems and ballooning costs.

"Our review is all about ensuring that the Met avoids the pitfalls and gets the most out of the technology budget, because at the end of the day, better deals and smarter systems could mean a more efficient police force and more officers out on the streets."

In its review, the committee is expected to consider whether some contracts can be renegotiated or even cancelled. Presently the force spends ?325m a year on technology, with a third of this spend committed to one deal with Capgemini that is due to end in 2015.

Source: http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=22281

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