New chief executive for Police ICT Company

Former TalkTalk chief information officer Martin Wyke has been appointed chief executive of the Police ICT Company.

Mr Wyke has 30 years of experience in IT solutions, most recently in telecommunications.

He also has a track record of leading IT organisations while stabilising service, coupled with initiating and delivering significant business and digital transformational programmes.

At TalkTalk he had full production responsibility for all IT and customer-facing platforms and ownership of the delivery of all technology programmes. Prior to 2012 he was chief technology information officer and member of the Operating Board at Virgin Media for three years.

Nick Alston, Essex police and crime commissioner and chair of the Police ICT board of directors, said Mr Wyke will bring experience, enthusiasm and leadership, drive innovation and boost the company`s growth.

“Martin’s appointment is crucial as the company strives to enable policing and associated bodies to make the best use of technology to deliver efficient and effective policing and improve public safety,” he said.

“This is a significant leadership role, providing strategic direction and commercial expertise. The ability to combine a drive towards long-term vision while delivering immediate benefits to forces – both financial and operational – is essential.

“We are confident that Martin’s broad knowledge of the commercial sector and his proven experience and skills in technology ideally place him to lead the company’s growth and we are delighted that now joined us.”

The appointment of Mr Wyke, which followed a recruitment process beginning in April 2015, is one of a number of strands of activity at the Police ICT Company since it started operating earlier this year.

Arrangements to transfer a number of national IT solutions from the Home Office to the company are being developed and opportunities to secure value for money by advising law enforcement on how to get the best deals from suppliers.

In the longer term, the Police ICT Company programme could release savings for police forces of at least £150 million per year and help them use new technology to deliver efficient and effective policing.

The company was launched by Home Secretary Theresa May in July 2012 with a clear remit to tackle the “tremendous waste” within the £1 billion spent on police technology every year, as well as generate savings of £465 million a year and enable the sharing of information “seamlessly” between forces.