Complaints against officers

[Fedster + 1,307]

Officer supplied with hundreds more devices thanks to cheaper in-house system.

Kit will keep more officers on the beat

 

The Met has become the first British police force to develop its own mobile fingerprint scanner.

Officers are able to confirm the identities of suspects at the roadside within 60 seconds if they have a criminal record, are wanted or are known to immigration enforcement.

The easy to use kit, called INK Biometrics (Identity Not Known), allows faster apprehension of wanted offenders while removing the need to return to base will keep officers out on the streets for longer and will free up limited custody space.

Met officers and staff took the innovative step of developing their own product and software when it became clear that doing so could significantly increase the number of devices at a much reduced cost.

Although similar technology has been used by the Met and other forces since 2012, the new kit is cheaper so allows six times as many devices to be deployed - 600 will now be rolled out to frontline officers across London in the next six months.

The simple to use device is connected to an officers’ Android phones and securely communicates with the Home Office developed Biometric Services Gateway (BSG), which searches the Criminal Records Office and immigration enforcement databases.

The device has also proven itself to be a vital tool in helping officers and other emergency service workers safeguard vulnerable individuals.

Police were responding to reports of a naked man running in the road, jumping on vehicles while self-harming with a razor blade outside Bayswater underground station last month.

The man, 36, had no ID or personal belongings and gave the officers incorrect details. He was taken to the hospital where officers’ took the man's fingerprints using the INK device.

Despite having slightly cut index fingers on both hands from self-harming, the device successfully and quickly provided his details.

The data that came back from the fingerprint scans included a photograph and descriptions of his tattoos that helped officers identify the man.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick, said: “I have always been clear in my ambition to make the best possible use of technology to fight crime. The speed of analysis of information that this device will offer, will drive effectiveness and efficiency and allow officers to spend more time in our communities and fighting crime.

“This new technology was developed from the ground up with the full involvement of our officers and as we move forward we need more people like them, to join us with their tech savvy, innovative thinking. I hope this shows potential officer recruits that policing is fully embracing the digital age and that they can be part of an exciting future.”

Superintendent Adrian Hutchinson, leading the project, said: “I am very proud we have become the first British police force to develop our own device. With the money we are saving, we are now able to provide more devices to more officers than ever before, saving them the time and inconvenience of either waiting for a biometric device to arrive or taking the suspect into custody."

The in-house system was built and tested by the Met’s Digital Policing division and the Transformation Directorate and it is estimated it will save £200,000 in support costs per year.

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[Beaker 817]

Why didn't they just buy the one loads of other forces are doing?

[Sceptre + 2,699]

40 minutes ago, Beaker said:

Why didn't they just buy the one loads of other forces are doing?

Because it's saving nearly a quarter of a million a year yet delivering more devices, which looking at the picture are much better than the current offering. This is just the sort of sensible innovation we need more of in the police. 

[HazRat 762]

50 minutes ago, Beaker said:

Why didn't they just buy the one loads of other forces are doing?

Also because they own the software they’re not limited on the number of users which has been a problem with the predecessors... MIDAS, Lantern, MobileID.

[HazRat 762]

52 minutes ago, Beaker said:

Why didn't they just buy the one loads of other forces are doing?

Also the other one is linked to a particular software app which the MPS has not decided not to use.

[Beaker 817]

Because it's saving nearly a quarter of a million a year yet delivering more devices, which looking at the picture are much better than the current offering. This is just the sort of sensible innovation we need more of in the police. 

As I understand it the new setup we're getting up here is £100-£150 for the device, and after initial setup fees there are minimal ongoing costs. It's an off-the-shelf product as well. The older methods (Lantern?) i'm told are literally thousands of pounds a year unit though

[Beaker 817]

Also the other one is linked to a particular software app which the MPS has not decided not to use.

That would explain it. They not use Pronto?

[HazRat 762]

2 hours ago, Beaker said:

2 hours ago, HazRat said:

Also the other one is linked to a particular software app which the MPS has not decided not to use.

That would explain it. They not use Pronto?

No. Personally I think pronto has more to offer with connectivity to other systems and just its general usefulness for everyday policing activities.