A new digital system is to be set up to support the justice process in the armed forces.
The Service Police – comprising the Royal Air Force Police, Royal Military Police and Royal Navy Police – in partnership with the Service Prosecuting Authority and Military Court Service, have signed a five-year, £8 million agreement with NEC Software Solutions to deliver an integrated IT system based on its Connect product.
It will replace the Service Police REDCAP, Coppers and Tribase Intel systems.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said this will provide a digital overhaul of military justice, aimed at reducing delays, increasing collaboration between organisations and helping them to identify criminal trends. It will also connect with the systems of the 16 UK police forces using the Connect system and Home Office applications such as the Police National Computer.
The move comes in addition to a series of changes in the service justice system through the Armed Forces Act.
Go live in 2023
Work on the new system is set to begin immediately and it is expected to become operationally capable early next year.
It will involve creating a single data source for the relevant organisations, which will be available from the beginning of an investigation through to a prosecution, hearing and sentencing.
This is expected to reduce workloads, cut delays in the transfer of data and mitigate against errors, confusion or ambiguity, as well as support the creation of dedicated witness and victim management processes.
In addition, it will provide for real time statistical and data analytics of criminal patterns.
Improve investigations and support
Minister for Defence, People and Veterans Leo Docherty said: “We have one of the fairest and most stringent justice systems in the world and it’s important we equip those in the service justice system with the latest technology and digital tools to streamline investigations and better support victims.
“By upgrading the IT platform throughout the military justice network, we will align better with civilian forces to collectively tackle criminal activity.”
