“We are trailblazing on IT” says Commissioner

Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Graham Bright has welcomed a national HMIC report which cites Cambridgeshire’s use of IT as a positive example of how forces should rise to the challenge of policing in the 21^st century.

The report on the state of policing says that it is “essential that the advances of the forces with the best technology – such as Cambridgeshire [Nottinghamshire, Hampshire and South Wales] – are adopted and then improved upon by all.”  The report goes on to say there is a need for forces to make savings through more efficient working, accelerating acquisition and use of common digital services and systems.

Sir Graham said: “I am delighted that our progress in Cambridgeshire has been highlighted by the HMIC report. We are trailblazing on Information Technology. Programme Metis is a Cambridgeshire initiative which is all about increasing the amount of time officers spend out and about in their communities, reducing the need to return to fixed bases for long periods of time. We are leading the way, so much so that the programme was recognised by the Home Office recently when we were awarded £2m of Innovation Fund money to see it rolled out to our collaboration partners Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire as well.

“I fully support the use of technology wherever possible to deliver better value for money and increase police visibility. I am delighted that our innovative approach is being recognised at a national level.”

Metis is a root and branch redesign of all force systems, processes and structures which focuses on utilising technology to release officers’ time, allowing them to spend more hours out in their communities through the use of mobile data devices. The ultimate aim is for the organisation to become paperless, enabling more efficient sharing of information across the criminal justice system.