BT lands £70m IT deal to strengthen South West police forces

BT has been awarded a significant £70m IT services contract to enhance the technology infrastructure for two South West police forces. The ten-year agreement with Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police sees BT committed to managing a broad array of IT services across both forces. These responsibilities include providing support for body-worn cameras, vehicle radio systems and ensuring access to real-time information to bolster community policing. The significant deal reinforces the already established rapport between BT and various UK police forces.

The shared objective between Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police and BT is to bolster their technology estates, equipping them for future demands and challenges, in order to promote more joined-up policing. According to BT, the two forces manage over a million emergency and non-emergency incidents and respond to more than 118,000 recorded crimes yearly. As such, the agreement aims to fortify how these forces handle these events. While the contract is primarily between BT and these two specific forces, there is the potential for the agreement to include additional regional forces in the South West in the future.

The 70m contract covers a spectrum of IT demands for these police forces, including field mobile, airwave vehicle and handheld connectivity, security, and customer service desk applications. There will also be a focus on enhancing the efficiency for the 101 and 999 services and bettering intelligence gathering and data sharing for staff. Improved connectivity for devices such as mobile phones, body-worn cameras, and vehicle radio systems is another key component of this deal and pivotal for on-duty officers. This enhanced connectivity will facilitate access to crucial real-time information, bolstering the abilities of local policing.

The services delivered under the contract will not only improve operational effectiveness but also aid the forces in complying with security frameworks. BT will support measures to fortify their security protocols against external threats . The measures implemented under this contract are poised not only to advance Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police's digital policing strategy but also strengthen crime prevention efforts while delivering anticipated financial efficiencies.

BT is also committing to support social value initiatives for both forces. The deal includes measures to improve transparency in regard to the environmental impact of police activities in the South West region. More than 5,100 police officers and 3,500 police staff work within these two forces and also employ more than 550 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and special constables.

"Efficient and resilient technology infrastructure is crucial to support the police in tackling both current and emerging threats – so we're proud to have the back of South West police forces by delivering exactly that," said Ashish Gupta, Managing Director, Corporate and Public Sector at BT. He believes that the services BT will provide under the new contract will help future-secure connectivity in all areas of policing, from frontline officers to support staff, helping them to "protect the public and keep pace with the changing nature of crime."

Mark Chivers, Chief Technology Officer at Devon and Cornwall Police, said that this new contract extends an already successful long-term relationship between BT and the police forces. Looking ahead, he notes "BT brings a wealth of expertise from its wider organisation and having a contract that covers both Forces will enable service improvements and efficiencies through the standardisation of service across our Strategic Alliance."