Government vision for a joined up Criminal Justice System is another step closer
The Police Information Technology organization (PITO) has taken a significant step forward in enabling the Police Service to deliver its part of a modernised and 'joined-up' Criminal Justice System (CJS).
Using Lanner Group's professional simulation software technology, WITNESS, PITO aims to apply process simulation to improve Custody and Case preparation processes. Simulation has also been recently applied to assist the performance of UK police forces in a number of key areas including call handling, incident response and scientific support.
November's ACPO sponsored 'Delivering the Police Case Management Process' Conference in London saw the formal announcement of the new strategic partnership with Lanner which was met with widespread support.
Warwickshire Chief Constable and Chairman of The National Custody and Case Preparation Programme Board, John Burbeck, told the audience of national Police forces together with representatives from the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) and other areas of the CJS, that Lanner would be working with PITO as part of the ongoing business led change programme in the area of Custody and Case Preparation.
"This is the start of a ten-step approach to force-wide business change and Lanners WITNESS simulation will be at the front-end of how we approach this. Forces will now be able to develop a plan for how benefits can be realised and from that, identify a business change plan" said Chief Constable Burbeck.
The government's ultimate objective is to deliver a 'joined-up' CJS that will incorporate a fully automated end-to-end case management process.
One of the key benefits of the new electronic environment will be unique and easy access to relevant cases afforded to both victims and witnesses, enabling them to be regularly updated as cases unfold. In short, an improved service to the public. Key performance improvements will include faster decision-making, easy remote access, and speed and efficiency enhancements and will be complemented by a substantial alleviation of the existing administration burden, releasing significant benefits
The IT-driven change programme will eventually integrate the Police Service's Custody and Case Preparation systems with the CPS' s own COMPASS case management system and the Court Service's LIBRA system, which is currently in development.
The national Custody and Case Preparation Programme is currently re-aligning its strategic focus from a technological led to a business-led, benefit-driven approach. The Programme will focus on benefit realisation, ensuring a major reduction in bureaucracy, more efficient processes, and significant financial and performance improvements.
Superintendent David Branfield, Head of Business Change, Custody and Case Preparation for PITO said, "One way of ensuring that we capture full benefits is to use simulation to understand the 'As is' and 'To be' of the situation within a risk-free environment. This evidences possible scenarios that maximize benefit and deliver an optimum solution.
Lanner will assist us in driving the full programme roll-out including transitioning those forces currently in the NSPIS (National Strategy for Police Information System) programme into this next phase. We will start with a review of 6 forces initially, complemented by a period of knowledge transfer between Lanner and PITO to bring us up to speed with WITNESS so that we can deploy it across the forces that have so far committed to the programme. Lanner will also fulfil the role of programme consultants on areas of benefit realisation".
About PITO
The Police Information Technology organization provides information technology and communications systems and services to the police and other criminal justice organizations in the UK.
PITO is a non-departmental body PITO is overseen by a board that draws its members from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the police authorities, the Home Office and PITO is a non-departmental body. PITO is overseen by a board that draws its members from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the police authorities, the Home Office and the Scottish Executive. The board also has independent members.
For more information, please contact:
Alison Hicks
PITO Press Office
020 8358 5759
alison.hicks@pito.pnn.police.uk
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