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'Ello 'ello 'ello... North Wales police calls up IP
What 'ave we got 'ere then?

By Tim Ferguson

Published: Friday 10 August 2007

Policing in the remote areas of North Wales is getting a boost with the rollout of a new voice and data network.

North Wales Police is implementing a unified communications system from Cisco which will link 75 police stations and provide them with IP phones and video conferencing facilities.

The network is expected to save the force around £100,000 per year through reduced call charges and maintenance costs and the removal of legacy systems.

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The network is intended to allow police officers to spend more time in their communities, reduce travel costs and make communication across the region simpler.

Ian Davies, project and customer service manager for the North Wales Police information management group, said this will be a particular benefit in such a diverse region where a large amount of police time is spent travelling.

He told silicon.com that the network is around 75 per cent complete and on course to be finished by mid-November.

The force will use around 1,500 Cisco IP phones which will be able to support a records management system for officers to access information on suspects and victims.

Other planned uses for the network include links to the Crown Prosecution Services, local NHS and government.

There are also plans to to provide officers on the beat with PDAs and to implement a missing persons alert.