MOPAC cancels command & control contract despite already costing £65 million

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) will revamp its 30-year-old command and control system after the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) cancelled new technology for being two years late.

A legal dispute has erupted after the new system due to replace the MPS’ current command and control system failed to be delivered by the go-live date – October 2015.

On March 11, 2016 MOPAC terminated its contract with Northrop Grumman for the provision of its CommandPoint™ application.

MOPAC said the firm disputes its right to terminate the contract, however, it is standing by its decision, and is seeking immediate repayment of milestone payments from Northrop Grumman.

Police Professional understands MOPAC has so far paid the supplier £65 million to implement CommandPoint.

In a statement, MOPAC said it is minded to pursue a claim against Northrop Grumman for costs and damages arising from the supplier`s failure to deliver a command and control solution in accordance with the contract.

“The contract was terminated on the basis of the supplier`s failure to deliver the command and control system in accordance with the contract, including its failure to deliver in time for the originally planned October 2015 go-live date. There was no prospect of a finished product being delivered before the expiry of the contract term on March 18, 2016,” it said.

Stephen Greenhalgh, the Deputy Mayor for Policing, said: “Whilst I am disappointed we are in this situation, I am absolutely clear we are right to terminate this relationship and to find another way to deliver this service.

“The contract is two years late and it is right to terminate a contract that is not working.

“I am reassured that we have a realistic prospect of recovering costs and am confident that the service to the public will not be affected.”

The current command and control system is now undergoing further modernisation and the MPS is also looking at alternative options to meet its longer-term operational requirements.

Labour London Assembly member and chair of the Police and Crime Committee, Joanne McCartney, said it appears like something has gone seriously wrong with the project.

“The budget committee has expressed concern in the past whether the Met or MOPAC have the skills to manage these specialist IT projects,” she added.