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Story URL: http://www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/portals/0,3800002620,39121004,00.htm

5 years ago... UK police launch nationwide intranet project
Drive to streamline continues as contract comes around again…

By silicon.com

Published: Tuesday 01 June 2004

01.06.99 The UK Police Forces have announced stage one of their plans for a fully-fledged nationwide intranet.

In a tender released late on Friday, Pito (Police Information Technology Organisation) invited software suppliers to provide security for the project.

England and Wales' 43 police forces currently have separate, closed intranets. Whoever wins the contract will develop a single log-on feature for any or all of them, enabling them eventually to join together via a web interface.

Inspector Simon Pratt, speaking for Pito, told silicon.com: "The solution will provide authorisation and identification services for future applications. These applications may be available to a police force on its own intranet or available across force boundaries - via an extranet. In due course, where appropriate, they will be made available to the public on the internet."

The 5-year contract has already attracted interest from suppliers. Dwight Galler, marketing director of US-based Netegrity, said: "This application is right up our alley. It would leverage all the capabilities of our flagship product, SiteMinder."

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01.06.99 Did Netegrity win the contract? Was the police forces' communication and service delivery improved as a result of this united approach? No and yes.

In September of 1999, Cable & Wireless walked away with the contract, drawing on its extensive expertise with government deals.

Police efficiency, however, has been the subject of much debate for many years. The use of technology has undoubtedly streamlined many functions but stories about poor document management and field communications still hit the headlines.

And, in case you failed to notice, that five-year deal should once again be up for tender. Time to call the cops.