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RIM BlackBerry roundtable on mobile data
Comphrensive write-up of the discussion that took place at RIM Blackberry's roundtable event at the houses of parliament in early October, chaired by member of the Home Affairs Select Committee David Davies.
The BAPCO Journal attended a very interesting and thought provoking debate on the use of mobile data in modern policing, held at the Houses of Parliament, and chaired by David Davies, a Conservative member of the Home Affairs Select Committee. The panel consisted of Jim Hitch, an Inspector from Bedfordshire Constabulary, Keith Gough, Police Mobile Information Manager from Thames Valley Police, Graham Baker from Research in Motion (RIM) and Gary Cairns, Mobile Programme Information Manager from the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA).
The discussion began with David Davies outlining his experiences of using mobile data in his role with the British Transport Police. He outlined that he found mobile technology very useful and easy to use, and stated that it helps officers with stop and searches, as well as enabling them to input the relevant information there and then, rather than having to return to the station.
Davies then turned to Jim Hitch from Bedfordshire Constabulary, to ask about its BlackBerry smartphone deployment, and if mobile device were genuinely necessary for police forces and their officers. Inspector Hitch replied that BlackBerry devices represented the next step in the evolution of street policing – from the whistle, to police boxes, to two-way radios, to mobile data devices. He continued by outlining Bedfordshire’s experience with BlackBerry smartphones. He explained that where before they had seen that officers were spending 46% of their time on shift in the station, today with the introduction of BlackBerry smarpthones they were only spending 36% of their time and this figure was decreasing, therefore improving police visibility on the streets of Bedfordshire.
"Equivalent of 100 extra officers on the street"
Gary Cairns, from the NPIA, underlined that the use of mobile data devices has become part of the best practice approach for police forces, to help improve efficiencies, through the ability to carry out functions such as dynamic shift briefings, image sending, more time on the streets to engage with the public and so on. Keith Gough, the Police Mobile Information Manager from Thames Valley Police also touched on these areas, saying that since introducing BlackBerry smartphones to its officers around five years ago they have seen an equivalent of 100 extra officers on the street by virtue of the amount of time an officer can save by not being in the station, and instead out on the street.
The issue of officer safety in using these devices was discussed, with David Davies asking that if an officer is busy tapping a keypad and staring at a screen, when trying to talk with someone, could they risk being injured or attacked? Inspector Gough replied that it was important that officers were aware at all times and used their radios to call in PNC checks when the situations wasn’t safe enough to use the device keypad. He emphasized that officers were reminded to use their judgment in these situations.
The issue of training – and the acceptance of the devices by officers as a tool to use – was another area touched on, with Inspector Hitch saying that while training was a cost consideration that had to be factored in, it was an important one, and would save time in the long run. With regards the 10-15% of officers who Bedfordshire have monitored not using their devices, Inspector Hitch said it was part of the cultural challenge to change attitudes, often among those who have been in the force for a long time, to accept the new method of using mobile data, and to encourage them to engage and work with their mobile data device, and explain the benefits it brings, rather than letting them simply ignore the device they have been given.
Explaining the benefits
Inspector Gough commented on this as well, saying that Thames Valley often flagged up success stories regarding the use of BlackBerry smartphones to underline the importance they play in modern policing, and encourage those reluctant to use theirs to see the benefits and use them more often when on the beat. Furthermore, by highlighting the other benefits of the devices, such as allowing officers to access legislation documents on screen, they can get access to relevant documentation to allow them to correctly follow procedures and be sure they are operating under the current guidelines when dealing with members of the public.
The issue of the security of the devices – both the information sent over the networks, and the devices inherent security too –was then discussed, with Graham Baker from RIM explaining that currently BlackBerry smartphones were the only mobile data devices that have CESG approval and that if a device is lost or stolen, it can either be automatically ‘killed’ from the central IT point, or if someone attempts to guess the PIN of the device more than 10 times, it will automatically lock itself and become worthless.
The issues of management of the devices, and the restrictions placed upon them by central IT management was also discussed. Inspector Hitch explained that when his officers are given the device it is then their responsibility to look after them and keep them charged. He also outlined that that the devices’ internet restrictions are issued under the same decrees of those concerning the networked computer terminals, therefore allowing a reasonable level of access to non-police applications – and as pointed out, news of live football scores could be valuable to the police in an area where a match was taking place, and a late goal could cause an incident.
What a Conservative government would do with mobile data
Before the event ended, Inspector Hitch, keen to take advantage of the opportunity to question a possible future member of the party in government, asked David Davies what a Conservative approach to further investment in mobile data to be. His reply was as follows:
‘There will almost certainly be cuts on public spending and so if forces can make a business case that a particular device can save money in the long term then it would have a very good chance of being taken up but we can’t just spend money left right and centre on technologies – it won’t happen. From my own experience I have seen the benefits of mobile data and it is something I would want to support if we there is to be a change of government.’
