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All change at BAPCO
At the BAPCO annual general meeting held on 27th July 2010 Hayden Newton was elected as President with Alan House and Sue Lampard being confirmed as President Elect and Vice President respectively.
USB drive receives formal approval for public sector use
The device protects confidential data through 256-bit encryption and is the first of its type to be certified.
New TETRA Internet portal containing database of TETRA applications
TETRA-Applications.com, the world’s first independent Internet Portal for TETRA communications professionals has announced that its Internet Portal has gone live.
Servo awarded framework agreement for UK public sector IT managed services
Servo is one of only 12 IT companies in the UK to be awarded a framework agreement for IT managed services by Buying Solutions, the national procurement partner for all UK public services and part of the Efficiency and Reform Group within the Cabinet Office.
Service providers must embrace cloud services and bundle them into their enterprise solutions, says report by Analysys Mason
The report, entitled Enterprise cloud services: worldwide forecast 2010–2015, states that the global market for enterprise cloud-based services will grow from USD12.1 billion (EUR9.4 billion) in 2010 to USD35.6 billion (EUR27.5 billion) in 2015.
NICE incident management solution available as part of Motorola’s Dimetra IP radio system
NICE Systems has announced that NICE Inform - an incident information management solution for public safety organizations - has successfully completed integration testing for Motorola’s TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) Dimetra IP release 7.
More than half of police forces sign up to IAM managed service
New managed service provides viable route to secure information sharing, inter-force collaboration and operational efficiencies
Kent Fire and Rescue Service designs an Internet annual service performance plan
Kent Fire is the first FRS to design its annual service performance plan specifically for the internet. The plan, which has been published on its website, aims is to reach a wider audience with information on performance and plans for the future, as well helping reduce costs and the environmental impact of printing. The plan is also being promoted via social media such as Twitter.
Modernising Policing: reform and social responsibility
The Fourth Modernising Policing Conference (CPD certified) will take place at The Barbican, London, 7th December 2010.
Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service the first brigade to implement web map service from Ordnance Survey
OS OnDemand is a national web map service that serves raster images, including OS MasterMap Topography Layer, directly into a customer’s geospatial application using Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) WMS standards.
New Flatbook makes debut in UK
German company Bormann has launched the Flatbook C09 mobile wireless PC for use in any police vehicle following what it calls “a very successful launch across Europe.”
Barnsley boost beat time
All frontline officers and police community support officers (PCSO) in Barnsley now have access to police records on the move, meaning less time at the station and more time in the community.
Crimestoppers signs for ABM’s confidential information recording system
Independent crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, has partnered with ABM in a five-year agreement for Information in Confidence (IIC), part of the abmpegasus suite of cutting-edge covert management tools.
Crimestoppers signs for ABM’s confidential information recording system
Independent crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, has partnered with ABM in a five-year agreement for Information in Confidence (IIC), part of the abmpegasus suite of cutting-edge covert management tools.
Northgate purchases police duty management system
Northgate Public Services has announced the acquisition of CARM Police Duty Management System from Concorde Informatics in a move designed to further boost Northgate’s demand management services for hard-pressed police forces across the country.
Survey reveals investment in technology remains a priority for fire professionals
PageOne Communications has revealed the results of a recently commissioned survey of 500 operations managers at fire stations throughout the UK. The survey looked into current trends in technology adoption; changes in fire service expenditure; and managers’ views on future social and environmental threats.
Iridium makes third donation to APCO International Silent Key Scholarship Fund
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announces that Iridium Communications has made a donation to support the organization’s Silent Key Scholarship Fund for the third year in a row
Ted O’Brien, Iridium’s vice president and general manager of the Americas, presented a check f
Manchester processes 330% more intelligence on crime using NBIS
Cityco, Manchester’s city centre management company, has reported a 330% increase in the amount of intelligence and offender data collated since implementing NBIS (National Business Information System), the web-based data sharing technology from Hicom. As a result Cityco has identified 47 prolific and persistent offenders operating within Manchester and has excluded a further 39 individuals from the city centre in the last 12 months. Cityco’s NBIS system now holds information on over 3,000 offenders who are known to Cityco’s Business Crime Unit.
IAFC President testifies in support of US public safety broadband network
International Association of Fire Chiefs President and Chairman of the Board Jeff Johnson, chief of Tualatin Valley (Ore.) Fire & Rescue, testified before the US Congress on July 27 in support of allocating the 10 MHz of the D Block portion of the 700 MHz band of spectrum directly to public safety to establish a 20 MHz wireless broadband network.
Ofcom makes two new 116 helpline numbers available
Ofcom today confirmed that it will make two new pan-European 116 numbers available in the UK.
Emergency service interoperability in jeopardy due to lack of standardised operational procedures
Coordinated emergency responses within and between the fire, ambulance and police service is hampered by the lack of standardised operational procedures, rather than technology according to a new report from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Information is now at South Yorkshire’s fingertips
Police officers in South Yorkshire are now able to check an individual’s identity at the roadside within two minutes, following the introduction of a new mobile fingerprinting device.
Virgin Media Business delivers high speed network to eight Lancashire healthcare trusts
The £9 million project will connect approximately 170 healthcare sites, including those at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Blackburn with Darwen, NHS East Lancashire, East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, NHS Central Lancashire, NHS North Lancashire and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust.
Traka introduces stand-alone touch-screen system
The Traka Touch intelligent device simplifies key management whilst improving accuracy and efficiency.
St John Ambulance Lancashire selects sms solution from TMC to recruit volunteers in emergencies
First aid charity implements autonomous web-based text messaging solution to directly contact staff and volunteers in an instant.
Stone Group supplies mobile data terminals to Dyfed Powys police authority
Stone Group, the UK’s largest privately owned hardware manufacturer and technology solutions provider to the education and public sector, will supply and maintain 130 Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 mobile data terminals (MDTs) to Dyfed Powys Police, in a deal worth £638,000.
New DMR two-way radios join the digital race
Hytera, China’s number one communications company, has recently launched its new digital product offering in Europe.
Northrop Grumman introduces BioTRAC biometrics collection device
BioTRAC is a flexible, scalable and durable platform designed for in-theatre biometric capture, identity management, and mobile mission computing requirements.
Motion launches new line of rugged tablet PCs
Motion’s F5v Mobile Field Tool and C5v Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) are industry’s first slate tablet PCs to integrate advanced Intel Core vPro processors
A security shell for handsets used by UK police forces
New solution against all current and future cyber threats to be used within Arqiva’s Police Mobile Data Solution.
Vacancy: Executive Director, BAPCO
Competitive package: closing date for receipt of applications 30th June 2010
Cutting through the complexity of policing at APA-ACPO 2010
The APA-ACPO International Policing Exhibition 2010 is set to be the most high profile event for police, police authorities and the Home Office following the General Election.
Protection from cyber threats launched for Arqiva’s police mobile data solution
Kaspersky Lab has announced that Kaspersky Mobile Security and Kaspersky Work Space Security are being used within Arqiva’s Police Mobile Data Solution, to protect handsets used by police officers, against all current and future cyber-threats. This latest innovation in front-line policing technology is currently being deployed across the largest forces in England and Scotland.
Iridium announces “test your satellite phone” week
Iridium Communications Inc announces the launch of its fourth annual “Test Your Satellite Phone” (TYSP) Week initiative, reminding users to make sure their satellite phones are ready to deploy at a moment’s notice when natural or manmade disasters strike.
Scotland's fire and rescue services are first in the UK to begin operating a new state-of-the-art digital communication system
Airwave, now operational in over 1,100 fire service vehicles and 368 fire stations in Scotland, is part of a UK-wide project to provide the fire and rescue service with the equipment needed to respond to major emergencies including terrorism.
Harrow Council adopts ‘zero tolerance’ fraud strategy using Civica Fraud software
5.00am at a Civic centre in Harrow and UK Border Agency and Corporate Anti-Fraud Team (CAFT) officers arrest nine people as part of a contractor fraud investigation for Harrow Council in North West London. Despite what the papers say, benefit fraud is not the only type of fraud that local authorities are tackling.
BAPCO 2010 sees quality visitors and great business despite travel restrictions
It could be said that the timing of BAPCO 2010 could not have been worse in terms of the travel restrictions placed on the UK as a result of the Icelandic volcanic eruption. However, BAPCO 2010 saw leading decision makers and influencers attend from all aspects of public safety communications including members of local and central government, the emergency services, fire authorities, MOD, British Army, Department of Health and the Police, to meet with suppliers and source new solutions.
Security-focused approach to public sector data will cause ‘more damage than good’
SAS, the leader in business analytics, and Chris Higson, visiting associate professor of accounting at London Business School, have published a best practice whitepaper entitled Valuing Information as an Asset warning public sector professionals that adopting a ‘security first’ approach to data management and blind-folded cost-cutting will cause further inefficiencies and damage to public confidence in Government.
£3 Million National Framework for mobile identification units to assist Special Branch/Counter Terrorism Officers
APD Communications has announced a £3 million framework to equip Special Branch (SB) / Counter Terrorism (CT) Officers throughout the UK with APD’s cutting-edge Mobile Identification Units (MIUs).
FiReControl to use Intergraph geospatial public safety and security solutions
FiReControl will use map-based incident response management solutions from Intergraph to enhance public and fire fighter safety and provide rapid response for more than 50 million citizens.
Firebuy selects Excelerate for major incident equipment framework
The Framework commenced on 1st March 2010 after a call for submissions for the Supply, Repair and Maintenance of Specialist Equipment and Ancillary Products and Services in Support of National Resilience in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).
Strategic super alliance of EADS and Alcatel-Lucent
EADS Defence & Security and Alcatel-Lucent have signed a strategic alliance to provide advanced broadband solutions to the US public safety market – and the cooperation may eventually be expanded to worldwide markets and other frequencies.
Arqiva upgrades Devon & Cornwall Police communications ahead of tourist season
Arqiva is upgrading communications technology at Devon & Cornwall Police Force's command and control centres, in preparation for the summer and the onset of millions of visitors to the counties.
Tendring District Council implements data sharing system to reduce crime
Tendring Business Against Crime (TENBAC), a proactive business crime reduction partnership, has announced that it has gone live with NBIS (National Business Information System) – a web-based data sharing technology from Risk Management and Crime Reduction software specialists, Hicom. Using NBIS, TENBAC is able to track and monitor the activities of offenders and produce detailed reports and analysis in order to reduce levels of crime in the area.
Carnation Designs has been selected as the preferred supplier of switching and power management systems for the NHS Ambulance Services national vehicle specification for frontline ambulances.
NHS Ambulance Trusts across England have been working towards this goal since 1995, collaborating closely with specialist vehicle providers to develop a national specification for frontline ambulances.
Practical help through the energy efficiency maze
Loughborough company becomes Official Endorser of the European Code of Conduct on Data Centres.
Free educational workshops, live demonstrations and the latest technology at the International Policing Exhibition
The APA-ACPO International Policing Exhibition, the UK’s biggest and most influential event targeted at anyone involved in policing and security, is being held from 30th June - 1st July at Manchester Central. Hosted in association with the Home Office, this leading event features the latest technology and services for policing and security from over 120 leading international suppliers and is free to attend for all police staff, associates and colleagues.
How heavy is your unmanned aircraft?
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued updated guidance on the use of unmanned aircraft, following recent legislative changes. The advice includes the new regulations affecting small, unmanned aircraft weighing less than 7kg used for surveillance work.
Portable jammer prevents remote initiation of a radio-controlled bomb
A portable jammer connected to a pop-up tent creates an instant protective faraday cage to prevent the remote initiation of a radio controlled bomb.
MPs say FiReControl centres should continue
Communities and Local Government issues a press comment saying that the Government welcomes the report which supports the changes that it has already made to the management of the project, and that it will respond in detail to the Committee in due course.
Vodafone UK launches dedicated customer services team for emergency services
From today, Vodafone UK's emergency services customers will receive major improvements in the 24/7 support they receive. Vodafone customers include over 70% of all ambulance services, nearly 60% of all police forces and 50% of fire services in England, Scotland and Wales.
FiReControl “yet another catalogue of further poor judgement and mismanagement” by Department of Communities and Local Government, but should “press ahead”
The Government's programme to replace 46 local fire and rescue service control rooms with nine purpose-built regional control centres has been inadequately planned, poorly executed, and badly managed, says the Communities and Local Government Select Committee
Multi-million pound grant to develop mobile phone technology for involving citizens in policy making
Brunel Business School is leading an international consortium of academics which has won a multi-million pound grant to develop mobile phone technologies to involve citizens in policy making.
Latest news from BAPCO 2010
Here's the latest news from BAPCO 2010, if you haven't already confirmed your visit register free for the exhibition or book your conference place here.
New NPIA strategy focuses on swift justice and reduced costs thanks to police science
NPIA today (March 24th) publishes a new strategy focussing on cutting-edge science that helps the police to detect crimes in hours rather than days and creates safer neighbourhoods.
Ministry of Justice chooses IBM predictive analytics to help make streets safe
The UK Ministry of Justice is using predictive analytics technology from SPSS, an IBM Company, to assess the likelihood of prisoners re-offending on their release and to ultimately help improve public safety.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s IT team favours Supportworks Essentials help desk software
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has recently invested in Hornbill's Supportworks Essentials to facilitate its IT helpdesk. The IT team is using Supportworks to log all technical incidents and requests from over 2000 users located at 50 stations and its head office.
DMR Association Welcomes HYT and Team Simoco
Two leading Professional Mobile Radio vendors join the growing Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Association to promote affordable, interoperable and innovative digital radio solutions.
Birmingham City Council uses multi-channel messaging for mass notification
Birmingham City Council, the most populated local authority in the UK, has introduced a new Birmingham Community Alert messaging service to warn its residents and workers about emergency incidents from flooding and power failures, to major road closures, health risks and evacuations.
New lightweight helmets for trouble-free comms
Radio Telecom Services Ltd has announced their appointment as sole distributor for a new rescue communications helmet range.
Fake passports - AIM's solution
Faked British Passports and identity theft of the kind associated with the recent murder of a Hamas official in Dubai are preventable, claims one of Britain's leading technology trade associations.
Study into public safety mobile broadband and spectrum needs, by Analysys Mason
The TETRA Association has commissioned Analysys Mason to undertake a study to gather information on future public safety user requirements, based on a review of existing documents and reports recently published in Europe.
ZoneSearch: where would you be without it?
An innovative new mapping and information system that promises to improve the efficiency with which response and recovery units initiate their operations has been launched by York-based data supplier, Simunix.
New dates for ACPO-APA Conference and Exhibition
It has been announced that the annual ACPO-APA Summer Conference and International Policing Exhibition will run on a later date line than previously published.
Three minute interview: is the future WAP-shaped?
Iain Ivory, Senior Marketing Solutions Manager, Enterprise Mobility Solutions, Motorola (EMEA), talks to BAPCO Journal's Jose Sanchez on WAP developments for the emergency service community.
New Home Office-funded CDRP/CSP (Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership/ Community Safety Partnerships) academies/qualifications have been announced - nationwide throughout March 2010
The fully funded Home Office CDRP/CSP training academies for CDRP/CSP Data Analysts, Managers and chairs aim to enhance data sharing and analysis between local CDRP/CSPs and A&E Departments.
Cadcorp introduces a new incident support mapping application for the UK fire services market.
The Cadcorp Incident Support Mapping System (ISMS) extends the range of applications available to fire services that are based on the Cadcorp SIS – Spatial Information System product suite. It has already been deployed at a number of UK fire services.
Nottinghamshire Police puts customers at the centre of the service – case study
The Nottinghamshire Police control rooms were highly commended at the 2009 CCF European Call Centre Awards for improvements undertaken since April 2007. The only public sector organisation in their category to be shortlisted, key improvements included the streamlining of the crime recording process through the Crime Wizard module from criminal intelligence IT specialist, ABM.
iPhone ap for USAR responders
TEEX's Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) division, based in College Station Texas, has launched the first iPhone application designed, tested and fielded by the agency.
Data sharing technology achieves 26% reduction in shoplifting
Once labelled as having the highest rate of shoplifting in the UK, Croydon Business Crime Reduction Partnership (CBCP) was created to provide a safe and secure town centre for customers, staff and visitors to Croydon. Working in partnership with local retailers and business owners as well as a number of local authorities, CBCP has significantly reduced crime in the area, achieving a 26% stock loss reduction for May-August 2009, compared with the same period in 2008.
Glasgow city centre rolls out 400 cameras following successful trial
It is estimated that the Night Zone initiative has so far prevented 700 crimes, amounting to savings of £500,000.
Free new BlackBerry software for Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Windows small business server
Research In Motion has today introduced BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express - free new server software that wirelessly and securely synchronises BlackBerry smartphones with Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Windows Small Business Server.
Devon and Somerset signs up for operational intelligence software
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have become the eleventh UK brigade to sign up to the early adopters programme for Innogistic’s new CFRMIS Operational Intelligence Solution. The solution has been designed in close co-operation with the UK Fire and Rescue Services, many of which are also implementing the new software as a part of the early adopter scheme.
New Ford demonstrator uses Microbus vehicle technology
Ford Motor Company, in conjunction with Ford Special Vehicle Preparations (SVP), has developed a brand new demonstrator featuring the latest Microbus technology to provide a Police-specification mobile data and traffic enforcement ready vehicle.
Virgin Media Business bids for public sector savings
Virgin Media Business – previously known as ntl:Telewest Business – has been launched today, with the aim of helping the public sector realise the £3bn in efficiency savings set out in the Government’s pre-budget report.
Satellite phone lands traveller in terrorism trial
Andy Pag (35, London), a "green" traveller attempting to drive around the world in a vegetable oil powered bus, is due to face trial in an Indian court after being arrested on suspicion of terrorism when police found he was possession of a satellite phone, however the case has been delayed for the 4th week today by police repeatedly failing to meet court deadlines to finalise the charges against him.
Microbus technology helps to catch bad drivers
Microbus in-vehicle computers are part of a new roadside monitoring initiative by Greater Manchester Police to reduce road traffic accidents.
Case study: protecting the IT infrastructure of Britain’s most dispersed ES network
How Highlands & Islands Fire and Rescue Service is ensuring the network security and integrity of its IT system.
Modernising the police
Robert Leach, Client Partner – Police, BT Global Services UK, writes on the difficult future faced by the UK Police Service and the role of IT in taking on this challenge.
Registration is now open for the BAPCO 2010 Exhibition
Registration is now open for the BAPCO 2010 Exhibition, taking place from 21-22 April 2010 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.
Public consultation on VOIP from ECC
The concept of a single emergency telephone number which would allow people to access emergency services was based on the traditional fixed-line phone networks. As a system it has worked very well but in recent years has struggled to keep up with the increasing penetration of mobile telephony.
North Yorkshire Police purchase I/Disclosure system from Intergraph
North Yorkshire Police becomes third force to purchase public safety systems specialist Intergraph's 'I/Disclosure' software, which supports the local police checking process for Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) vetting.
Early warning systems for the public
The European Parliament has issued a Written Declaration acknowledging the importance of efficient early warning (EW) for citizens in case of imminent or developing major emergencies and with a view to reducing suffering and the loss of human life.
AIM-bound Relay Station offers free voice message broadcasting trial
Free trial allows government agencies, local authorities, emergency services, enterprises and sports clubs to measure the immediate impact of voice message broadcasting on their operations.
Force must act “corporately” as regards mobile information solutions – Flanagan Review
The Review of Policing by Sir Ronnie Flanagan (final report) has been published – here is a summary of the IT/communications-related points raised in the lengthy report.
Enabling efficiencies for the Police - Airwave responds to the Flanagan report
Barbara Nash, head of Marcomms at Airwave, discusses how the success of mobile data relies on securing the support of the officers who will be using it.
PSAEW: reaction Sir Ronnie Flanagan Report
Response to the publication of Sir Ronnie Flanagan’s Review by Chief Superintendent Ian Johnston, President of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales.
British Transport Police use GIS to tackle Crime
British Transport Police (BTP) is to work with Aligned Assets to link all its key systems including Command and Control into an open spatial environment with a single address database based upon the NLPG.
Warning and informing the public conference – ensuring civil awareness and resilience
The conference will take place on Thursday 13th March in central London (venue to be confirmed). A half-day workshop entitled Connecting in a crisis – building strong media relationships will also take place on the 14th of March (delegates who attend both events will receive a 20 per cent discount).
Cybit wins award for competitive strategy leadership
Online Telematics Service Provider (TSP) Cybit has been awarded the 2007 European Light Commercial Vehicle Telematics award from Frost & Sullivan for Competitive Strategy Leadership.
