The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has awarded BT-owned EE a £21 million (€23.9 million), three-year contract.
The national project will bring mobile devices to officers, enabling them to access information remotely. Officers who receive a device will no longer have to rely on multiple sources for information as it will all be made available on one device. They will also have the ability to record information in a secure, digital format.
EE is the mobile network supplier and main contractor, and Motorola will supply the Pronto Digital Notebook software. The device handsets will come from Samsung and Blackberry will provide the mobile device management solution. Roll-out of the devices is expected to begin this year.
Police eye digital transformation
Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said, “This contract signifies the commitment Police Scotland and the SPA have in leading the force into a more digitally focussed future. The use of mobile devices will revolutionise the way officers and staff access systems, currently only available from desktop and laptop computers within police stations, enabling them to work on crime prevention and community-based policing to keep people safe, whether in the public, private or virtual space.”
David Wallace, BT Enterprise’s public sector director in Scotland and chair of the BT Scotland board, commented, “BT’s Enterprise business is pleased to be leading the delivery of this transformational project which will use the latest technology to support policing in Scotland. Delivered via our EE mobile network, this deal will enable thousands of police officers across Scotland to access the information they need, at the touch of a button.
“Our high-speed 4G network and cloud technology will free up police officers’ time so they can focus on policing in communities. We’re excited to be at the forefront of creating new possibilities through this partnership.”
Emergency Services Network
In 2015, EE won a tender from the UK government to run the Emergency Services Network (ESN), a 4G-based communications system for the country’s police, fire and ambulance services. The ESN is due to launch at the end of this year. It replaces the proprietary Airwave system, which will be shut down.