Provision of enhancements to the command and control system

Report: 20
Date: 17 January 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report outlines the financial requirements for the provision of enhancements to the CAD Command & Control system to enable the implementation of C3i in 2004.

A. Recommendations

1. Members are asked to note the contents of this report.
2. Members are asked to approve the request for procurement action for provision of enhancements to the CAD Command & Control system by means of a variation to the existing outsource service agreement with Unisys.

B. Supporting information

1. The Metropolitan Police Command & Control system is currently provided through an outsourcing contract with Unisys.

2. In June 2001, the project commissioned an independent company to review the current Unisys CAD and its potential for future development. The findings of this report were that the system was sound and would provide a firm foundation for developing a system that would fulfill the needs of C3i in the future. This route is assessed to be a lower risk option than attempting to introduce a new command and control system at the same time as centralising control room functions.

3. To allow the implementation of C3i (the centralization of MPS call handling and dispatch from boroughs to three centres), the system must be changed and enhanced.

4. The requirement is for enhancements to provide the following:

• Improved Resource Management
• Improved Gazetteer & Mapping functionality
• Electronic interfaces to other agencies, organizations and MPS systems
• User interface improvements
• Increased capacity and removal of some existing system constraints.

5. On 23 November 2001, the C3i Programme Board was presented with a paper proposing the continued use of the Unisys CAD, enhanced to meet future requirements. The Programme Board endorsed the recommendation and instructed the project and DPCS to prepare for negotiations with Unisys. It was further agreed that the proposal must be formally put to the C3i Steering Group on 6 December 2001. OGC approval of the CAD Procurement Strategy had meanwhile been granted at Gateway 2 and the C3i Steering Group approved the decision of the Programme Board.

6. The project is ready to commit to negotiations with Unisys for the continued use of Unisys CAD for C3i. Use will depend upon reaching a satisfactory agreement with Unisys for them to provide the required functionality for the appropriate duration at an acceptable cost. C3i is conscious of the long-term importance of NSPIS to the Police Force and the MPS, and it is intended that C3i will migrate to NSPIS in due course at a time of least risk to the operational system.

7. It is stressed that C3i (Project and DPCS) negotiations with Unisys have not yet started in earnest and no certainty on the use of Unisys CAD can predate a contractual agreement.

C. Financial implications

Financial details of this contract are contained in the linked exempt report to be considered at this meeting. The enhancement costs will be fully funded by the Home Office capital grant for C3i. In the event that the C3i budget has not been approved by 17th January, costs will be met from the C3i contingency budget.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: Ailsa Beaton, MPS Director of Information

For information contact:

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

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