Network deal cuts costs for constabulary

Cheshire Constabulary is expected to save £117,000 a year in a collaborative network deal.

The new Cheshire and Merseyside public services network (PSN) will connect 13 ‘core’ partners across the region, including police, councils, health and fire and rescue services, providing a major opportunity for public service organisations to develop new ways of working together. It will allow much greater collaborative working, service transformation and shared use of buildings.

The savings are anticipated to reach up to £1 million each year, split between the 13 public service bodies.

The PSN will enable Cheshire Constabulary to link up with Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester councils, as well as other partner organisations.

Updata Infrastructure UK is providing the technology for the new network that will allow police officers and staff to access force systems in other buildings that are connected to the PSN.

Cheshire police and crime commissioner John Dwyer said: “The new communication infrastructure will help to provide a more streamlined and flexible way of working, not only for the constabulary but for our partner agencies as well.

“In these times of austerity it is vital that we can save money where we can, which we can then put to good use on the front line, providing an efficient and effective police service.”

Updata’s fully-managed wide area network (WAN) will include high-speed fibre-optic broadband to link hundreds of public sector buildings across the region.

It will replace outdated and disparate network systems and will be the catalyst for greater collaboration, sharing of information and reduced duplication of resources.

Updata says by pooling information and communication infrastructure for telephone, computer, CCTV and voice networks, significant savings will be realised while ensuring appropriate levels of security, resilience and flexibility are maintained.

The network is expected to be operational by April 2015.