Technology firm enables continuity of police operations in response to Covid-19

Body-worn video supplier Axon, video consultation firm Refero and smartphone ID scanning software specialist Anyline have already given the emergency services free access to their services.

Now to ensure “continuity of police operations”, NICE is offering its Investigate Xpress digital evidence management and investigation solution to forces at no cost for the remainder of 2020. NICE says it can be deployed in as little as 48 hours.

“Investigate Xpress enables law enforcement personnel to do much of their case-building work remotely for social distancing and continuity of operations, minimising direct contact with both people and physical evidence to enhance personal safety,” says NICE.

Chris Wooten, executive vice-president of NICE, said: “Interpersonal contact is the nature of the job for many who work in law enforcement, but in today’s unprecedented situation with Covid-19, this is causing worries for the safety of officers, investigators and other personnel.

“Additionally, potential contamination of evidence, including USB drives, DVDs and other physical media, has also become a mounting concern for investigators who handle them daily. Through the rapid deployment of NICE Investigate Xpress, police forces can eliminate these concerns and protect their staff, while ensuring that vital investigative work continues to get done.”

Investigate Xpress is an all-in-one digital evidence management and investigation solution that:

• Minimises in-person contact by enabling call takers, dispatchers, officers and investigators (working in dispatch) to intake information from citizens electronically simply by emailing or texting a secure upload link;
• Removes the ‘physical touch’ from digital evidence by eliminating the need to copy evidence onto CDs and USB drives;
• Enables employees to work remotely and securely to support social distancing. Investigators, analysts, video technology crews, discovery teams and communications bureau personnel can all work effectively from home;
• Reduces face-to-face contact during evidence collection by helping investigators reduce their travel and public contact. CCTV video evidence, 999 audio recordings and other evidence can be secured remotely;
• Reduces potential virus spread among different units by enabling employees to share information digitally;
• Minimises repeat in-person contact with victims and witnesses by recording phone, video and Skype interviews from home and linking these recordings electronically to cases; and
• Enables secure, electronic sharing of case evidence with the Crown Prosecution Service, thereby minimising face-to-face contact and handling of physical media.