Bespoke system currently being fitted into vehicle fleet under contract between the two forces and Civica
Two Midlands police forces have begun to implement a bespoke software solution to work in a new fleet of vehicles.
West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police, which have been in a strategic alliance together since 2015, have contracted software applications specialist Civica to provide the system to 62 vehicles. It is being installed in a fleet of BMW 3 and 5 series vehicles that are currently being fitted out.
The system includes the company’s automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), standard speed and enforcement system and digital video recording capability. It has a modular design that will make it possible to tailor the system to each vehicle’s role.
The move is part of the forces’ efforts to update their infrastructure and implement common solutions and standards. Civica said the system will provide real time information to support operational responses, road safety and the investigation of offences.
In-vehicle recordings and data captured by the solution are said to be fully compatible with the central network, and there is provision for a SIM card based solution for control room officers to dial in and view live footage.
Antony Gilham, ICT project manager at West Mercia Police, commented: “Technology changes at an ever increasing rate and it was important for the alliance to develop and deploy a common future proof standard, which would not only be easy for officers to use, but ultimately deliver the aims and objectives of the alliance.”
Image by Lydia, CC BY 2.0 through flickr
