Notts Police to get £3m to improve crime-figting technology

The force will receive support to fund a series of improved investigation facilities following a successful bid by Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping for a slice of the Home Office’s Innovation Fund for 2015-16.

The funding will support new collaborative projects involving various forces in Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and in one case, Derbyshire.

The bulk of the funding, £1.355m, will be used to develop the East Midlands Operational Support Service (EMOpSS) Mobile Working partnership agreement which has seen the force merging resources allocated to roads policing, armed policing, police dogs and POLSA search teams into one unit to address the threats posed regionally.

A new mobile ICT system is required to ensure officers within all four forces have access to real-time information to make critical decisions and can update systems at any time and from any location while out on operation.

This would require remote access to email, video conferencing capabilities and information-sharing.

The new ICT platform will increase the time police officers can spend on the frontline by reducing the need for frequent trips back to base as well as reducing duplication. The new mobile working arrangements will enable officers to spend up to 20 per cent more time in the field, significantly increasing visibility.

A further £1.267m is to help fund a new integrated ICT system enabling the forces to record and share intelligence on non-crime incidents that cannot be recorded as offences but could be vitally important for intelligence purposes.

Commissioner Tipping said: “I am delighted that the Home Office has recognised the good work Nottinghamshire is undertaking with its colleagues regionally to improve crime investigation and strengthen our response to new emerging risks such as child sexual exploitation and cybercrime.”