Police integrated computer system ‘to take years’

THE integrated computer system for Scotland’s single police force, which was launched yesterday, will take years rather than months to become operational, the chair of the Scottish Police Authority has said.

Vic Emery, in a letter to The Scotsman today, said while the benefits of Police Scotland’s new system would not be experienced immediately, he wanted to allay fears that this could put the public at risk.

Mr Emery also stressed that the speed at which the new IT system could be delivered depended on public funding and future priorities agreed by the Police Service of Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. He was responding to comments by Graeme Pearson, MSP, formerly director-general of the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency, who said yesterday that synchronising the regional IT system should be priority from the beginning.

Mr Emery said that while he agreed with Mr Pearson, a number of key databases – including the criminal history system and the Scottish intelligence database – could be accessed by police officers throughout Scotland.

Mr Emery wrote: “The significant programme of IT that was needed for day one has been agreed and delivered, in close consultation with the police, for a single public-facing website for Police Scotland.”

He continued: “Of course we want to see further improvements – but on a phased basis.

“1 April represents the start of the process of technology reform – not the end.”