Text scheme to end in Suffolk

A groundbreaking messaging service provided to local people in Suffolk has been suspended. Police Direct enables citizens within Suffolk to receive appeals and latest information direct from the police via text, voice message or e-mail.

Nearly 25,000 people across Suffolk have signed up to the service, which has proved extremely successful since its introduction in the west of the county in 2005.

But the free service was discontinued on March 31 when the technology supporting the system is shutdown by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) for financial and contractual reasons. The move also means that people will not be able to report a crime online via Suffolk’s website, as this facility relies on the same technology.

Suffolk is working to find a solution, at both a national and local level, so that the Police Direct service can resume as soon as possible. Suffolk’s Chief Constable Alastair McWhirter said: “We are extremely disappointed that this innovative and popular service is being suspended – but it is for reasons beyond our control. We are constantly looking at ways of improving our service to local people, which is why we chose to be the first force in the country to trial this new system.

“The system was developed in partnership with PITO (Police Information Technology Organisation). But now that this technology is being withdrawn, the service cannot continue at this time. It is disappointing that we received official notification of this decision just three days before it was turned off – and no information about how long it might be suspended for.

“However, I would like to reassure people that we will be working to find a solution so that we can re-launch the service in the future.”

Peter Neyroud, head of the NPIA has promised that he will do everything he can to support Suffolk, which was the pilot site for this innovative and groundbreaking system, to find an interim solution.

The service was first launched in West Suffolk in August 2005 – and there were plans to introduce it countywide this year, with a view to increasing membership to 50,000 people.

A recent survey of existing Police Direct subscribers showed that 99 per cent felt it was a useful service, and 90 per cent felt better informed about policing in their area.

More than half reported feeling safer as a result of getting Police Direct messages and a similar number also said they had a better opinion of Suffolk Constabulary.