Innovation on the beat with I-Patrol
South Wales Police and Gwent Police are replacing the traditional pocket notebook with smartphones equipped with a specially-developed mobile application called I-Patrol.
South Wales Police and Gwent Police are replacing the traditional pocket notebook with smartphones equipped with a specially-developed mobile application called I-Patrol.
This will allow officers to instantly record, share and access details of crimes and also access local and national police databases from any location.
Developed in-house by South Wales Police and Gwent Police, the app aims to improve service quality by reducing the need for officers to return to the station, keeping them visible and accessible within communities.
More than 5,000 officers and staff across the two forces are expected to be using the smartphone app, running on Vodafones 4G network, by the end of this month. It is anticipated the change could result in a ten per cent improvement in the amount of time spent by police out on the streets equating to an additional 436,000 hours a year.
The I-Patrol app enables officers at crime scenes to capture audio and visual accounts from victims, witnesses and offenders and to instantly upload files and information directly onto a shared computer system.
Through their new devices, officers can also access intelligence at the point of need when attending incidents, enabling them to be better prepared and informed before they arrive at the call. This reduces the risk to officers and provides a better service to repeat and vulnerable victims. The devices can even send through push notification messages with vital information to officers on route to an incident.
The quality of information and evidence obtained at crime scenes is also enhanced and officers can electronically sketch details from a road traffic collision incident, for example, and upload the sketch or photo directly to the system as part of the evidence. The technology also allows forces to share cross-border data quickly and have rapid access to key information, which saves both time and money.
Both forces have also upgraded their current command and control and record management systems, with South Wales Police the first UK force to go live with Capita Communications and Control Solutions latest technology ControlWorks, which includes automated computer-aided dispatch and customer relationship management functionalities. It allows South Wales Police to manage all of its operations from a single viewpoint, from resource planning and geographical mapping, through to automatic updates about vulnerable and repeat callers.
South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis said: In situations where every second counts, it is vitally important that the technology and services we use are both responsive and reliable, if we are to continue to meet the challenges of 21st century policing. Technology is constantly changing and, despite the current financial challenges, we are committed to making best use of innovation to fight crime and keep our communities safe.
Our officers now have more information at their fingertips than has ever been previously possible, and they can access and update this quickly, wherever they may be. We are confident that all our communities will benefit.
Gwent Police Assistant Chief Constable Julian Williams added: This technology will revolutionise policing, bringing it firmly into the 21st century. Key information will be available to officers whether they are out on patrol or at the scene of a crime. This will undoubtedly allow them to carry out their duties more efficiently and effectively. This development has been made possible for us in Gwent thanks to the support and funding provided by our police and crime commissioner Ian Johnston.
Mr Johnston secured nearly £1.5 million over two years from the Home Office Police Innovation Fund to allow the two forces to develop the app and associated technology, which can be used on smartphone and tablet devices.
He said the whole purpose of the project was to get more officers out of stations and back on the street.
Officers using these devices now have access to a wealth of information in the palm of their hands
