Steria and Beat launch joint mobile data iniative

Steria and Beat Systems have teamed up to launch a mobile data initiative that they believe will transform the way UK police deliver public protection to the local community.

This will see the establishment of a mutual partner arrangement for those police forces operating Steria’s STORM command and control system.

Steria will become Beat’s preferred integration and deployment partner and Beat will become Steria’s preferred enterprise Mobile Data platform. Beat will integrate its market leading mobile data technology with Steria’s STORM application, which will benefit the 18 police forces across the UK that currently run Steria’s STORM Command and Control System.

Beat Systems, the mobile data specialist, focuses on mobilising business critical applications for police forces, Home Office Criminal Justice contractors, and central and local government

The partnership will allow Steria to offer an enhanced level of support to forces engaged in the National Policing Improvement Agencies’ (NPIA) programme. The enhanced mobile platform will provide a low risk, rapid deployment of a readily available mobile data solution by combining Beat Systems’ technology with Steria’s project and risk management disciplines and a range of testing services.

Tracey Lee, head of police at Steria, said: “When Gordon Brown called for an additional 10,000 mobile devices to be made available to the police last year, our customers came under a significant amount of pressure to increase mobile working. Our partnership with Beat Systems means that police forces will not only immediately receive the commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) mobile technology they need to access and update information remotely via handheld devices, it will also provide officers with the advice, training and support they need to manage the change and truly realise the benefits of a mobile future.”

Currently, Beat Systems’ mobile solution is the only platform and independent solution that is specifically built around police business processes with the aim of increasing officer visibility and effectiveness in the communities they serve. The proven technology is established in over six forces using the Encounters™ model patented by Beat Systems. Steria’s transformation services will enable forces to ensure that maximum value is derived from the technologies and that anticipated benefits are measured and realised.

Roy Hawes, commercial director at Beat Systems, added: “Having Steria as our deployment partner will help police forces meet the performance measures demanded by NPIA.”