Dorset Police, along with Devon & Cornwall’s police force, has signed up to a new ten year IT contract with BT worth £70m.
The managed service contract will underpin a range of the police’s information, technology, and communication demands, including field mobile, airwave vehicle and handheld connectivity for emergency services – alongside security and customer service desk applications.
It will see BT work with both police forces to support public contact and staff collaboration platforms, delivering efficiencies for 101 and 999 services, whilst helping to improve intelligence gathering and data sharing for staff.
BT says frontline officers will benefit from improved connectivity for devices such as mobile phones, body-worn cameras and vehicle radio systems giving officers access to real-time information.
More than 5,100 police officers and 3,500 police staff work within the two forces, and they employ more than 550 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and special constables.
As part of the contract, BT has agreed to progress social value initiatives for both forces, implementing measures to improving transparency on the environmental impact of police activities in the South West.
Ashish Gupta, Managing Director, Corporate and Public Sector at BT, said: “Efficient and resilient technology infrastructure is crucial to support the police in tackling both current and emerging threats – so we’re proud to have the back of South West police forces by delivering exactly that. This new managed service from BT will help future-proof connectivity in all areas of policing, from those on the frontline to behind-the-scenes support staff, helping them to protect the public and keep pace with the changing nature of crime.”
Mark Chivers, Chief Technology Officer at Devon and Cornwall Police, said the new contract had followed a successful long-term relationship between BT and Devon & Cornwall Police for IT managed services: “We are looking forward to working closely with BT colleagues to implement a new contract across both Dorset Police and Devon & Cornwall Police and to act as our key technology partner in our rapidly changing environment,” he said.
“BT brings a wealth of expertise from its wider organisation and having a contract that covers both Forces will enable service improvements and efficiencies through the standardisation of service across our Strategic Alliance.”