The national Police Portal, which allows members of the public to report minor crimes online, is to be replaced with an updated version with a wider range of e-services, the agency responsible said on 29 September 2005. Since it first became available in 2001, the portal has offered a facility to report "non-emergency" offences. Users can give details over the internet, informing the police where the offence took place by inputting a description of the area and a post code.
In its next stage of development, with the addition of digital mapping technology, people will be able to pinpoint the exact location of an offence.
The Police IT Organisation, which is responsible for developing the portal, is to decide whether to further develop the portal's two other main features: the online auction service for lost property; and a community bulletin providing email or text message alerts on local incidents. It will have to make an assessment of local police requirements before it goes ahead with these services, however.
Pito has signed a contract with security and defence technology firm QinetiQ in order to "provide and manage a replacement" for the existing portal. The company will start designing and building the replacement, which is expected to launch in April 2006 and will offer "new functionality" and "additional public services", Pito said in a statement.
There are also plans to use voice technology to help users with impaired sight. Further email and text message services could also be developed.
One key element is security. According to Pito, the new portal "will be load balanced across two separate secure sites in order to ensure greater robustness and resilience".
Tom McArthur, director of operational services at Pito, said: "This contract award will enable the continued development and expansion of online police services in the UK. The Police Portal plays a pivotal role supporting police forces in disseminating public information and ensuring public safety."
Pito has so far refused to divulge the value of the contract.
Quelle: KableNET, 29.09.2005
