Met IT chief gets national role

London's Metropolitan Police IT chief has been selected to head a national management group for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo).

Ailsa Beaton is to lead Acpo's Information Management Business Area to work on key criminal justice IT areas including the Police National Computer, security and freedom of information, the Met said.

Beaton, who is responsible for providing IT services to 47,000 police officers, has led the IT team at the Met for five years. She replaces Tom Lloyd as head of the Business Area.

Earlier this year, Beaton was appointed to the Commissioner's Management Board by Met police chief Sir Ian Blair.

She has 20 years' experience working in IT, including roles such as CIO for ICL and a senior partner at PA Consulting Group.