C3i/Airwave status report

Report: 6
Date: 2 December 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides a summary of progress on the C3i/Airwave Programme. The Programme is on track for continued Borough migration during 2006 and 2007.

A. Recommendations

That the report on the of progress on C3i/Airwave Programme be noted.

B. Supporting information

Programme delivery

1. Tranche 1 of the C3i transition plan concluded successfully with the move of Sutton into Lambeth. Senior stakeholders will be invited to contribute lessons learned to further refine the approach to T1A and beyond.

2. Work has continued by IPG and Unisys to ensure the performance of the Contact Handling System (CHS) and its overall integration into the Metcall technologies suite. CHS and Telephone Operator Centre (TOC) transition remain tightly coupled but remain on track to migrate into Metcall prior to Kensington and Chelsea migration at end of February 2006.

3. The strategy group has confirmed the high-level transition plan; options to manage and if possible minimise abstraction rates related to transition of Westminster are being developed.

4. The focus of the C3i programme has shifted to developing capability state 4 further and the creation of a programme plan to deliver this. Once this has been agreed, planning will move onto capability state 5.

5. Phase 1 Integrated Command and Control System (ICCS) and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) installation has completed Pre-System Acceptance Testing, and entered SAT on schedule. Lambeth SAT was completed with a satisfactorily small number of residual issues yet to be corrected. SAT has revealed differences in built configuration at Bow, which requires rectification by Frequentis and regression testing, and may hold up completion of SAT slightly beyond the planned 18 November date. Residual telephony integration issues are being resolved.

6. Palace of Westminster system has been successfully completed, introduced, and handed over - a very useful and focusing learning experience for all teams involved.

7. The model of radio issue for 90% of police officers has been adopted and is expected to cover changes approved over budget to date. Vehicle rollout has started. A significant change is being asked for by TP to align vehicle rollout with BOCUs (rather than with the vehicle replacement programme) to meet the business practices – this will have logistical and cost implications and is being actively debated by DAC McPherson and Commander Broadhurst.

8. Sutton successfully completed their migration with MetCall with no reported problems. 17 Telephone Inquiry Bureaus (TIBS) have now completed their build. All other BOCUs have now been engaged. Kingston and Richmond may brigade their TIB functionality due to the Service Review. There are concerns regarding the Merton TIB, a location is yet to be confirmed.

Strategy Group

9. The C3i Strategy Group on the 18 October concentrated on 3 critical issues, namely the late delivery of the CHS, transition planning and the financial pressures within the C3i Programme as well as the MPS generally.

Benefits

10. A revised structure for promulgating benefits has been devised. This ensures greater accuracy and allows clearer tracking. This will be developed and shared widely with stakeholders.

Key milestones

11 Key milestones scheduled in the near term include:

• Completion of Kensington and Chelsea’s Integrated Borough Operations office
• Development of the critical TIB Processes
• Complete General Support user guides incorporating TOC activity
• Update Operation Monitor user guides to reflect ICCS technology
• Detailed plan developed for Airwave dual handset rollout
• Develop detailed programme plan for delivering the agreed capabilities
• Develop plans for migration to Phase 2 – draft proposals issued for review
• ICCS and CCTV – Tranche 2 position installation commences (Hendon and Bow)
• Remote Network design published agreed and ordered
• Resolution of vehicle roll-out – roll-out sequence
• Kensington and Chelsea PAS site installation

Major issue

12. The major issue is the confirmation of the delivery schedule for CHS migration and delivery and integration of the ICCS and the associated transition plan. Any action necessary and risk mitigation for these issues are being managed within the programme.

Communications for MPS officers/staff on the deep tunnel London Underground

13. The current position with regards to radio communications for MPS officers/staff on the deep tunnel London Underground has not changed and processes are in place for staff to minimise the risk when entering that environment; i.e. i) Inform your control room; ii) Go down into station with Underground Staff; iii) Ask station control room staff to monitor your movements on CCTV camera; iv) If no staff available look to borrow one of their radios (it should be remembered that this is a different radio system and would go to a completely different control room); v) Inform your control room when you come out.

14. The permanent Airwave solution for the London Underground is still a distant deliverable. 'Connect' the London Underground radio solution has yet to be delivered on the first line (East London Line) and engineers cannot install Airwave on each line until 'Connect' is commissioned and approved as being stable. Full delivery of the permanent Airwave solution is not expected until the end of 2008.

15. The Interim Solution, which is a deployable solution in the event of a major incident, has yet to be delivered, although the contract is due for signature very shortly. It is anticipated that this solution will be available by the end of February 2006; this will provide two vans equipped with portable specialist equipment that will allow surface to sub-surface communications. (We are also in the process of putting a business case to the Home Office trying to increase the number of vans from 2 to 6).

16. There will be an 'Interim' Interim solution available for deployment over the Christmas period, which intelligence is suggesting is an extremely heightened terrorist threat; it is anticipated that this will also be 2 vans with appropriate equipment.

C. Race and equality impact

All Programme activities are compliant with the meaning and scope of the Disabilities Discrimination Act 1996, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Equal Pay Act 1970 and any Act of Parliament or other legal provisions relating to discrimination in employment.

D. Financial implications

The total forecast expenditure for the C3i Programme comprising C3i, Airwave, MetDuties Phase 1 remains within the approved budgets. These sums are being funded by a combination of Home Office capital and revenue grants and MPS approved and allocated capital and revenue funding. Funding concerns outside of programme scope are constantly monitored and reported to Strategy Group; there are currently no major concerns.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: C3i Programme Director

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback