Two-way interface to help police forces save with CPS’ digital working

While many UK police forces already recognise the value of two-way interface (TWIF) working with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), a significant number have failed to reap the benefits of digital working.

However those forces which are not yet successfully implementing TWIF now have an alternative option.

Based on STL’s ICIS case file build system, the innovative ICIS electronic case file module will ensure that all UK forces can deliver cooperative, electronic information sharing with the CPS, courts and defence lawyers.

STL’s technology enabled Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and West Midlands Police (WMP) to be the first UK forces to successfully implement TWIF with the CPS’ case management system, supporting the sharing of electronic case files months ahead of last month’s deadline.

Chief Superintendent Steve Anderson, head of the criminal justice unit at WMP, explains: “In just a few weeks, TWIF afforded us great benefits – it breaks the reliance on paper so that the CPS can update cases and make requests to our offices for specific tasks. We predict around £750,000 per annum of cashable savings to the organisation and a further £500,000 in non-cashable savings by spring-boarding into a broader paperless world.”

Richard Perkins, sales and marketing director at STL Technologies, said: “We’re delighted that our innovative technology, based on our proven ICIS case file build application, is now available to all the UK forces still challenged by the impending deadline.

“Resources are a key issue in the current climate: some forces are making do with the additional cost of a basic ‘scan and email’ approach to achieve the CPS’ electronic goal, despite the fact that this requires significant, additional, manual intervention with associated time and costs.

“The ICIS electronic case file module offers a simple, straightforward alternative, which isn’t constrained by bandwidth or available resources and is capable of electronically sharing complex case files with ease. Digital working is already delivering savings thanks to our ICIS application which was behind the first two UK police forces’ successful implementation of true digital working ahead of the CPS deadline. Our technology is ready to assist other forces in meeting the CPS’ electronic goal.”

The ICIS electronic case file module is an Oracle database, supported by an Oracle application server. It is used by GMP and WMP to electronically share case files with the CPS via a TWIF. Combining the existing interfaces to Live-Scan (electronic fingerprinting), Police National Computer (PNC) and the CJSE (criminal justice system exchange) with STL Technologies’ expertise, it will interface with other Oracle custody software applications.

STL Technologies Ltd

Bury St Edmunds,

Suffolk IP32 7AB

Tel: 01284 778 600

Fax: 01284 778 778

Email: sales@stl.co.uk

Web: www.stl.co.uk