Delivering Technology-Driven Effectiveness and Efficiency

Web ‘widgets’ key to iPortal
West Yorkshire Police’s ‘one-stop-shop’ for local community information has received praise from the Home Office as the force’s iPortal begins collecting feedback on the service it provides.

The iPortal is an independent website, separate from West Yorkshire Police’s own, which provides a broader working platform for police force information, as well as details and links of other local partners. The website has been established following public demand for a website which provides information on police and other partners local to the area.
The iPortal’s postcode search facility allows users to customise the homepage so they can view information relevant to where they live. Users can even move the content that appears on their personalised homepage so it is arranged in a layout that they are happy with.
This is the first time that police and partnership information is featured on a single web portal in a way that enables users to design their page around local news and information.
Partners which work with West Yorkshire Police are encouraged to sponsor their own information box, or ‘widget’, which automatically pulls relevant content from their own existing websites. Currently Wakefield local authority has two widgets on the iPortal and Kirklees council has also shown interest in sponsoring some of its own.
Hannah Saunders, deputy director of the neighbourhood crime and justice group, said: “The iPortal is an excellent way for the public to find out accurate, up-to-date information about local policing and partners, what crime has happened in their neighbourhood and work to tackle it. It is a vital way to help improve public confidence that crime is tackled and justice delivered.”
The site is currently only available as a live test version while the force collects feedback on how well it is received.
Computer users can test the new system and give feedback by logging onto http://iportal.westyorkshire.police.uk

Keeping people informed
Assistant chief constable for citizen focus, John Parkinson, said: “It is really important as a police service that we’re accessible to the public, recognisable and visible, which is what our Policing Pledge is all about.
“The iPortal website not only makes it easier for the public to find local and relevant information from the police, but also from our partners as well. The iPortal is simple to use; all it requires is a postcode search, and it enables individuals to customise their page to highlight the issues important to them across their community.
“One of our priorities is also about keeping people informed, letting the public know what’s going on, and for the first time the iPortal has the potential to capture and display on a single page a range of key updates from police and partners in local neighbourhoods.”
The beta version of the iPortal first went live in April this year.
Patrick Brooke, West Yorkshire Police web communications manager, said: “From a practical point of view, it will provide public users with a one-stop-shop of local police and partnership news. It will deliver tailor-made Wakefield partnership information direct to the home of public users – one message, one voice.
“Because the technology is so new, we are launching a ‘beta’ test version first and inviting the public to help us develop it further. We are inviting users to send in their comments and feedback so we can continue improving the system to make it more useful to local people.
“We have invited residents to try it out and tell us the things they would like it do in the future.”
Chief Inspector Paula Booth, Wakefield’s crime and justice coordinator, said: “This is a really exciting development which has masses of potential. Our new iPortal web page reflects both local police and partnership news which we hope will help boost interest and confidence within Wakefield communities.
“Now people can just tap in their postcode and get a tailor