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heshire Constabulary was founded in 1857 and is now responsible for policing nearly a million people, covering an area of great diversity with large rural expanses, areas of extensive heavy industry, and more than 200 miles of motorway.

The 2,081 regular of cers are supported by 220 Police Community Support Of cers and 1,464 civilian Police staff.

Today’s economic climate dictates that all forces must look to innovation and greater ef ciencies to meet budget targets. In support of this, Cheshire Police have implemented a trial programme based on the greater use of Short Data Service (SDS). The aims of the trial were threefold: to reduce air time use and free up space on the talkgroup; reduce costs associated with minutes of use, and allow of cers to book on/off Command & Control and Duty Management

System using their Airwave terminal, giving greater visibility of staff available for deployment.

The primary trial was held with the Eastern Command Area using 100 of cers for the purpose of evaluation and addressing any technology issues. A further 650 of cers from the East had their radios upgraded subsequently to further test the system and the operational capabilities of this new way of working. The Northern and Western Areas soon followed, so every of cer within Cheshire is now working to the same expectations as dictated by the system.

The Airwave End User Engagement (EUE) team was asked to attend each Area Division once it had commenced the trial. This enabled the force custodians to gain feedback on of cers’ perception of the new SDS implementation, and to ensure they were knowledgeable about its capabilities and its use. Once all the of cers had their radios upgraded, received appropriate training and were used to the new system of work, the expectation was high. Of cers could immediately see the bene ts of pushing a soft key for the purpose of update, as opposed to having to

wait for clear air in order to speak to a Control Room member of staff. Superintendent Beverley Raistrick from Cheshire Police said: “We have not yet been able to analyse the data but but the function to book on or off is working well and has improved visibility of staff on duty and available for deployment.

“We found the EUE to be most useful as the interaction between all parties was honest and open. Of cers’ understanding of what we were trying to achieve was better understood by using this “one to one” format so enabling them to take full advantage of the new technology. We were able to listen and react to the concerns and queries raised by some of the of cers who found it easier to participate in an informal environment than in a large classroom-type set-up. “All of cers who attended the EUE sessions had the opportunity to meet the Cheshire Airwave Team and put faces to names, which enhanced the working relationship established between all concerned – as did the Airwave goodie bags!”

The EUE sessions have proved so popular that Cheshire Police are now working with Airwave to repeat the programme every six months.

Ofcers (ACPO), run in collaboration with the Home Ofce’s Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST), to integrate future technology into a Police car. The KC Pronto e-notebook, which gives of cers the ability to digitally capture notes and images, was uploaded to the mounted, demountable and portable devices in the vehicle. Pronto also allows the of cer to search simultaneously on any national or local intelligence

system or other back of ce database by inputting minimal information. Of cers are also able to reuse the data across the complete range of Police activities, without trips back to the station, helping to keep of cers visible in their communities. KC worked in collaboration with a number of suppliers including Airmax Group, Civica, Daetech Systems, Facewatch, Imagebase, Innaxys, TetraTab, Trans-Tag, Vauxhall and Videolatitude.