You are in:
Controlling cross agency collaboration
Gloucestershire Police is about to begin a trial with Extent Software’s Collaborator application, which is designed to help share data and manage incidents across agencies. Currently the trial is being rolled out to include the force and the Highways Agency, The BAPCO Journal speaks to Stuart Ashdown, Command and Control Applications Manager, Gloucestershire Police to identify what the trial aims to achieve…
The need to share data across agencies is a growing requirement, and clear directive to aid the improvement of efficient management of incidents. Yet with many disparate IT systems it is certainly an area that can be problematic. However, now, thanks to a solution developed by Extent Software, known as Collaborator information can be shared securely across multiple applications, multiple platforms, multiple networks and with that across multiple agencies and departments.
This secure data-sharing protocol provides a user-friendly tool for more efficient collaboration. And, like Direct Electronic Incident Transfer (DEIT) the protocol essentially allows the sending and receiving of documents (such as in incident) along with the subsequent document updates to and from third parties.
Discussing the trial, Stuart Ashdown, Command and Control Applications Manager, Gloucestershire Police said, “Data integrity and efficiency savings are the key drivers behind the trial.”
“Currently when a 999 call is received if we need to share the information with, for instance, the Highways Agency, our control room operator will communicate the information via telephone, requiring both parties to input and log the incident. Collaborator, removes the need for voice contact and even more importantly provides an audit trail of the incident. Allowing us to see, in real time, when the incident has been actioned.”
“One of the most important aspects, of this, will be the time savings we will incur, since there will be no requirement to input data more than once, and a simple touch of a button will ensure the collaborating agency (in this instance the Highways Agency) will receive all of the information pertinent to procure an efficient incident response, reducing the need for voice communication.”
“As is quite often the case in a major incident scenario, the level of 999 calls increase, therefore being able to send critical data instantly to a partnering agency to aid the response to an incident is a tremendous time saving, and enables call takers to focus on answering 999 calls.”
As with all police forces, Gloucestershire Police has an overflow system in place for call taking, commenting Ashdown said, “The Collaborator could also help with the business continuity element of the service. For example, when 999 calls flow to the receptor force, the information can be retrieved instantly at the host force through the command and control solution.”
Configured to suit requirements
The data transfer is also totally configured; enabling users to select how much and which elements of data are require to be sent to a partnering agency or force. “In the very simplest of terms, I guess you would say it is comparative to emails,” added Ashdown. “Although there is no requirement for additional copy typing, and information can instantly be retrieved within the command and control solution.”
Ashdown also explained that data integrity was another key element to the solution. “Within a set format, and single export, the data is taken in all specified fields and populated at the receptor’s command and control system, reducing the need to re-type information, incident numbers and so forth, in all it provides us with total flexibility.”
Discussing how the solution could benefit other partnering agencies, such as fire and ambulance, Ashdown pointed out the benefits of interlinking emergency services’ command and control systems “Even within a Tri-Service environment Gloucestershire faces the challenges of data exchange between disparate command and control systems. Collaborator has the potential to bridge this data sharing gap at the touch of a button”.
And to the future
Initially, Ashdown believes, the solution will show reasonable cost savings. However, as he explained, “We will be sharing data in real time on incidents. But there are inevitably far wider benefits that the solution can bring, such as real time intelligence sharing. For instance, in the case of a vehicle used in a serious crime, with Collaborator we could share details of the suspect vehicle to all receptor forces within the area that it might be travelling through. Essentially meaning that we can literally leap over invisible boundaries set by policing regions, creating a far more intelligent and efficient solution to manage and combat crime.”
Collaborator has further benefits too, in terms of business continuity and disaster recovery. Commenting Ashdown said, “I see this as being an integral part of business continuity plans. For instance in the event of a major incident scenario and the control centre being taken out of action, there would undoubtedly be some minutes of downtime as control room staff move to the fall back control centre and then once up and running, need to key in all incidents, calls etc that have happened during this time. With Collaborator, partner forces could store all incoming jobs and instantly send the data to the fall back control, maintaining service levels at all times.”
Concluding, Ashdown said, “If the trial works as well as we anticipate, and I’m very confident that it will, it will certainly help improve efficiency through the real-time communication and full audit trail.
