MPS invests in critical data and application management services

Following the multi-million pound deal with IT services specialist CSC for end-user services, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has now awarded further contracts for application management services and the management of two of its critical data centres.

It is part of the MPS’ ongoing review of its technology contracts designed to rationalise and modernise the force’s IT. Through its ‘Total Technology Programme – Infrastructure’ (TTPi), the force has opted for a multi-supplier SIAM (service integration and management) tower operating model to deliver all core IT services and infrastructure for police officers and staff.

The five-year application management contract with Accenture – with options for one-year extensions – will help the MPS increase its use of digital technologies, including mobile and analytics solutions, while also enabling increased digital interaction between police and the public.

“As part of our integrated multi-supplier delivery model, Accenture will help us move to a more modern, flexible IT environment, enabling us to reduce costs and improve the technology available to help our officers serve the public,” said Chris Naylor, digital policing lead at the MPS.

He said Accenture “recognises the importance of collaboration and cross-supplier integration to help deliver next-generation police services” and “introducing new, innovative solutions”.

Under the terms of the agreement, Accenture will help the MPS manage and enhance its core IT applications and rationalise the application portfolio. The work will be carried out from the Accenture Delivery Centre in Newcastle, where around 60 new technology roles will be created as a result.

The “highly secure, available and scalable data centres” house critical MPS’ IT systems supporting services, such as emergency service communications, which handle an average of 6,000 999 and 15,000 non-emergency calls every day; automatic numberplate recognition, which captures more than 38 million ‘plates’ daily; and the recently-introduced body-worn video technology.

The management contract award to Keysource, the critical environment specialists, is designed to support a number of MPS’ primary objectives, including modernising its IT while reducing costs, improving efficiency, maintaining resilience and delivering energy savings.

An important aspect of the service is collaboration within the multi-supplier ecosystem to deliver end-to-end services to the MPS. This includes the transformation of existing services and the ongoing delivery of new ones.

Keysource will manage assets, capacity, efficiency, certification and compliance, as well as taking responsibility for delivery management and physical security management, including access to site, data hall and racks. Operational services including mechanical and electrical testing and maintenance scheduling, ‘remote’ IT smart hands service, data cabling and IT decommissioning and commissioning are also part of the remit.

Mr Naylor said having specialist data centre managed services will “deliver real benefits to the organisation and to the public” by improving services to meet the needs of a changing London.