Digital


Police try paperless stop-and-search A


Short Data Application (SDA) developed for Greater


Manchester Police’s Tetra radios is enabling GMP offi cers to record data in their ‘stop and search’ activities electronically. T e application, developed by


Sepura in close co-operation with GMP and Northgate, replaces the manual entry of stop and search data. It is expected not only to deliver savings in time and money, but also to improve the data quality, making it even more valuable for intelligence purposes. Following the introduction


of the 2010 Crime and Security Act, all police offi cers stopping and searching members of the public must record several key items of information: the reason for their having been stopped, the law under which they were stopped and their race, together with time, date and the offi cer’s identity. In addition, GMP has also decided to capture the outcome of each such encounter, recording whether the individuals are arrested, summonsed or given street warnings for their behaviour.


Traditionally, recording


this information has involved extensive paperwork, lengthening each encounter and putting offi cers at greater risk – and this has led to mistakes either in capturing the data or, later, while entering it into the central database. Sepura’s SDA solution involved


developing a series of menu-based prompts which would allow GMP offi cers to record the details of any stop and search, using their Sepura radio at the scene. To ensure that the SDA was correctly coupled to GMP’s back-end IT system, Sepura worked closely with its supplier, Northgate, to integrate the data fl ows appropriately. T e SDA has now been


proven during a six-month trial. “Feedback from the trial was extremely positive”, said Chief Inspector John Buttress. “T e new system is easy to use, quick and effi cient and helps to improves offi cer safety. Interestingly it also appears to have had a major eff ect on proportionality, reinforcing positive police/public relations.”


More DMR testing


Sepura’s rugged SRH3900 hand-held radio confi gured with GMP’s bespoke SDA (Short Data Application)


One operational offi cer


who participated in the trial commented: “T is system is by far the most effi cient, simple to use, time-saving idea I have been involved in since joining the police nearly eight years ago.” Several other forces are now evaluating the software.


eForensics scheme to expand A


National Policing Improvement Agency


(NPIA) pilot to speed up the time taken for police to examine computers and mobile phones used by criminals, has resulted in fi ve East Midlands forces achieving a 90 per cent increase in computer devices examined. This examination process,


known as eForensics, often provides crucial evidence in serious investigations such as distributing indecent images of children via the Internet, homicide and fraud. As computer crime has


increased and techniques have 10


become more sophisticated, the demand on technology experts in force Hi-Tech Crime Units (HTCUs) to examine electronic devices has grown nationally by 300 per cent over the past seven years. To help forces deal with this


increasing demand, the NPIA developed a more effi cient way for forces to manage the number of devices that need to be examined. The current process varies from


force to force. The aim of the six- month pilot was to speed up the process for all forces by providing one standard approach. The pilot enabled police


offi cers to contact one of the


announced the completion of three further successful DMR interoperability test sessions. Two sessions were for DMR Tier II (conventional operation) and the third session for Tier III (trunked operation). T e Tier II tests took place between Motorola Solutions and Hytera Communications, and Selex Elsag and the Italian telecommunications company EMC. T e Tier III session took place between Hytera Communications (infrastructure) and Tait Communications (terminals). Completion of these tests


T


brings the total number of DMR bilateral test sessions completed to 10 and the number of radio manufacturers that have participated in test sessions to seven. Tom Mockridge, chair


technology experts from the fi ve force HTCUs involved (Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire) to have their examination requests assessed before being sent to their force HTCU for investigation. The NPIA is working on making


it available to all forces from next month. Simon Bramble, head of police science and forensics at the NPIA said: “The pilot has been a great success helping forces increase the amount of electronic devices examined and signifi cantly reducing the time it takes to do this.”


of the DMR Association Technical Working Group, said: “Announcement of the interoperability tests for both Tier II and Tier III products demonstrates the commitment of the radio industry to DMR as the digital technology of choice for professional users, and the leading role DMR products play in the market place. “T e success of DMR is


based on the technology’s strengths of ease of migration from analogue, more eff ective use of spectrum, effi cient use of infrastructure compared to FDMA, and the fl exible and innovative features available from a 2-slot TDMA approach.” Details of specifi c products


and features tested in the sessions are available at www.dmassociation.org


LAND mobile September 2012


he Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Association has


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