Boeing has been awarded a £110 million contract to transform Staffordshire Police’s technology, the first IT partnership in policing in the country.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in Staffordshire awarded the contract to the world’s largest aerospace company to become the strategic IT partner for the force.
Boeing will bring transformational capability to Staffordshire Police, providing new cutting-edge technology and greater opportunities to work more effectively with partner organisations and local communities – as well as greater capability in fighting crime in Stafford and Stone.
The contract over a 10-year period would have an estimated value of at least £110 million including IT running costs and new projects. It will dramatically improve the capability and capacity of Staffordshire Police and save money compared to the current annual running costs for IT for the service.
The contract will also see, for the first time, a policing IT centre of excellence created in the UK in Staffordshire, as well as driving efficiency and effectiveness.
The contract follows groundbreaking work started two years ago by Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis to make sure police officers and staff have the right tools to do their job. This has already seen the roll-out of new mobile technology to all police officers and PCSOs which will make them more available to local people than ever before.
[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” ]Mr Ellis said: “This is a pivotal moment for policing across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Boeing is one of the most respected innovators in technology globally and won this partnership agreement against an exceptionally impressive field of 52 contenders.
“The ambition I set out in 2013 for Staffordshire Police to be the most technologically advanced local police service in the country is already on track but the partnership with Boeing will take the progress made to a whole new level.
“Policing in Staffordshire, and across the country, has fallen short of providing their officers with the right technology to do the job. As crime becomes more complex with borders for criminals swept aside because of the internet and social media it is essential that we ensure police have the right technology to tackle crime locally and wider.”[/box]
David Pitchforth, Vice President and Managing Director of Boeing Defence UK, said: “Boeing is delighted to have won this contract. We will work hand-in-glove with the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable and her team to support effective policing across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”
