By Kate Hanaghan, 5 February 2001 14:42
NEWS Today, BT announced a £4m contract with Sussex police to update the force's telephony and IT systems. Over the next five years, technological developments will enable Sussex to become the first force in the UK to take calls from the public via all media including telephone, fax, internet and email. Superintendent Nick Bennett is the manager of the call-handling programme at Sussex police. Bennett said that although the public can already email the police, this is to a non-specific address. He also explained that web design agencies will be helping the Sussex force to develop its web presence. He said: "We soon hope to have web pages for each part of the force with email addresses for specific officers so the public can get to the right person straight away." BT started working with Sussex more than two years ago. Early this year, the telco helped the force replace 28 non-emergency numbers with just one in order to take the strain off of its 999 emergency number. This has enabled the force to control the number of 999 calls it handles - therefore freeing-up resources for genuine emergencies. Bennett added: "As part of our partnership with BT, Sussex police will now be able to address non-emergency call handling even better, through new and improved technology and by employing more dedicated and well-trained call-handling staff." BT will be providing Sussex police with training for the new voicemail and email systems.
In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.
Log in or create your silicon.com account below