MPS enters into private sector IT partnership

The UK’s largest force has announced a partnership with a large European IT provider to implement a major element of its IT services and systems strategy.

Atos will provide the Service Integration and Management (SIAM) Tower section of the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Total Technology Programme Infrastructure (TTPi) – which will support the force’s move into digital policing.

It will manage the force service desk, with a view to encouraging a shift to self-service, driving efficiency, and providing up to date ICT good practice.

Atos will be MPS` technology partner, driving collaboration and innovation within the force and supporting its future technology aspirations which include increasing workforce mobility and providing faster, smarter and better equipment.

As part of the contract – which is believed to be worth between £40 and £150 million – Atos will manage the transformation of the other suppliers for data centre, hosting, end user, network and application management services as those contracts are awarded.

The MPS – has been consulting on plans to outsource back office functions since the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime announced it will have to make £800 million of savings by 2020.

It believes the contract will see an integrated end-to-end service with increased quality and greater value for money.

The announcement, made on November 4, comes after a London Assembly report claimed the MPS lacks the commercial expertise to negotiate good deals when outsourcing back office services.

The report, published last month, warned that plans to contract out services to the private sector present huge risks and said unless the force improves its commercial expertise, it risks a failure similar to the G4S and Serco electronic tagging scandal – where the firms were overcharging the Government to tag offenders.

Chris Naylor, Director of Digital Policing at the MPS, said: “This contract award signals a change in the way we deliver ICT for the MPS, Atos brings a wealth of experience in managing the SIAM Towers model.

“The model is all about collaboration and leveraging the best capabilities from our technology partners. We have a joint commitment to continuous improvement, delivering vital savings for the MPS over time and bringing innovation to the way we deliver and support technology for colleagues.”

Adrian Gregory, Chief executive of Atos UK and Ireland, said: “Atos will support the MPS through taking care of the technology and freeing officer time to fight crime. We will also help deliver digital services to counter emerging cyber, terrorism and financial threats.

“As a leading company in the delivery of SIAM services we are confident in our capability to work with MPS to deliver material cost savings and an enhanced service to officers and staff.”