C3I/Airwave status report

Report: 6
Date: 7 April 2006
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

1. Members accept this report as a record of progress on C3i/Airwave Programme.

B. Supporting information

Programme delivery

1. Work has focussed on Tranche 1 deliverables. Kensington and Chelsea were successfully migrated into MetCall Hendon. On 28 February, Kensington and Chelsea borough became the first Borough Operational Command Unit (BOCU) to use the Integrated Communication Control System (ICCS) and move onto Airwave service.

2. On 14 March the Lambeth MetCall boroughs (Sutton, Lewisham and Southwark) are scheduled to be migrated to the Airwave service. We will be taking this opportunity to implement the C3i Operational Monitor (OM) model for these boroughs. There is a significant amount of business and behavioural change work that is needed to ensure that the end-to-end process works efficiently.

3. The C3i OM Model is an end-to-end process with shared responsibilities between MetCall OM, Integrated Borough Operations (IBO) Telephone Investigation Bureau (TIB) and operational units. MetCall will coordinate the response and the support activities for the incidents. The command of the incident and supervision of operational units remains with the BOCU. All parties have to deliver on their commitments to make the model work.

4. Phase 1 ICCS has been rolled out across the 3 MetCall centres and will provide the facilities to migrate all the Tranche 2 boroughs into MetCall.

5. Phase 2 ICCS Site Acceptance Test (SAT) remains on track by 10 June. Phase 2 Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) has been conducted in Vienna, and a re-test undertaken, as both functionality and performance were initially inadequate. Good progress has since been made, but not yet to the point where MPS acceptance can take place. A recovery plan has now been agreed protecting SAT dates, and will require further performance tests in Vienna before hardware switches are shipped. Confidence in Frequentis resolving this remains high.

6. Surveys of most stadia have been completed, as are those for most Palaces. Wembley implementation is planned, but remains dependent on gaining access (due date was 1 February). A two-month slip is predicted before we can start, based on the state of readiness at site. Wembley fallback provision in Hendon Special Operations Room (SOR) has been added to scope.

7. Work continues with preparing each BOCU for relocation into MetCall. Engagement with Tranche 2 boroughs has started. The key organisational risk is whether sufficient and appropriately skilled staff will be made available to transfer into MetCall.

8. Work is continuing on assessing the skills and expertise of staff already in MetCall as well out in borough. Training and coaching interventions are being planned to address any shortfall.

9. The Kensington and Chelsea IBO build has been completed and all technology installed. Staff have completed their training and the IBO is now working 24/7. Staffing targets have been agreed for MetCall bound staff, posting letters have been sent and the career management process has commenced.

10. BOCU handset deliveries are on schedule, with handsets in storage ready for use. The Vehicle Roll-out programme is now aligned to BOCU delivery. Initial Integrated Borough Operations (IBO) fixed mobile radios have been delivered.

11. A paper for the migration from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of ICCS has been developed and circulated to key stakeholders. The aim is to have a draft migration plan agreed by end March and a finalised plan signed off by April.

Strategy group

12. The C3i Strategy Group met on the 23 February and concentrated on staffing issues for borough migration, the delivery of the Contact Handling System (CHS) and benefits delivery.

Planning

13. The C3i transition plan is being maintained. The plan for OM reconfiguration is being developed.

Benefits

14. Key benefits identified as part of the C3i business case include improved call deflection, call handling, non-assignment, safety, and deployment; also enhanced service maintenance and business continuity and an improved MPS knowledge and information base. The programme has developed a benefits management strategy and approach that has been presented to both the C3i Strategy Group and C3i Oversight Group.

15. While the bulk of the benefits will be delivered after the completion of the C3i Programme, there are significant benefits that are already being delivered and measured. The first of these is around call deflection. A benefits presentation is scheduled for the Strategy Group on 27 April 2006.This describe the first set of benefits measurements that are primarily due to automation, direct provision of information and technical interfaces.

Key milestones

16. Key milestones scheduled in the near term include:

• The conversion of Brent and Barnet to the Airwave service 28 March
• The conversion of Newham and Tower Hamlets to the Airwave service 11 April
• CHS Go-Live at Southwark, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Brent and Barnet for use in the Telephone Investigation Bureau
• Complete the power upgrade at Lambeth and Bow
• Complete ICCS Phase 2 FAT
• Motorola deliver Airwave radio handsets with software release 5.3.1 for MPS testing
• Sign off Covert Radio Statement of Requirements
• Finalise the remedial work to move the MetCall centres to the C3i OM Model

Major issue

17. The major issues are:

• Moving to the C3i OM Reconfiguration
• Migration of Barnet and Brent to the Airwave Service 28 March
• Migration of Newham and Tower Hamlets to Airwave/ICCS 11 April
• The delivery and integration of the ICCS.

Governance

18. The Chair of the C3i Oversight Group decided at the last meeting that there was no further need for this group to meet and this Group has been removed from the C3i Governance structure. The C3i Strategy Group, where all the stakeholders including the MPA are represented, provides the overall direction fro the C3i Programme. The rest of the governance structure for the Programme remains in place. Additionally, C3i reports progress and status into the Met Modernising Programme.

19. The Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) role for the C3i Programme has been transferred form the Sir Ian Blair to AC Steve House. From April MetCall OCU moves from DoI to Central Operations.

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, and 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 (MPS)

For more information contact:

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

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