Accenture has been chosen by the London Metropolitan Police Service to provide its application management services.
The five-year contract will see the consultancy firm help the Met increase its adoption of digital technology, such as mobile and analytics solutions. One aim will be to increase digital interaction between police and citizens.
Accenture will help the service manage its core IT applications, including enhancing core applications and rationalising the application portfolio.
The contract includes the possibility for one-year extensions.
The firm will deliver the work from the Accenture Delivery Center in Newcastle, part of the Accenture Global Delivery Network, as well as a location in London. According to Accenture, the contract will create around 60 new technology roles.
Accenture was chosen for its industry experience and its recognition of the importance of collaboration and cross-supplier integration, according to Chris Naylor, Digital Policing lead at the Metropolitan Police Service.
"As part of our integrated multi-supplier delivery model, Accenture will help us to move to a more-modern, flexible IT environment, enabling us to reduce costs and improve the technology available to help our officers serve the public," said Naylor.
The move is part of the Met’s Total Technology strategy, initially outlined in 2014 and spanning to 2017.
This allows for £200 million of investment over three years. It is planned that ongoing IT costs will be cut by 30 percent over this period.
Part of the project is to replace existing IT systems with fewer core systems, reducing paperwork and duplication and providing better access to information.
It also provides mobile equipment to police officers and aims to increase the ease with which the public can interact with the police using their devices.
In addition, the Met is moving to more agile contracts.
Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Stephen Greenhalgh, said at the time of the strategy’s launch: "By taking tough decisions on the budget and the Met Police estate, we are freeing up savings to reinvest in frontline policing and technology, so we can get more officers out on the beat and keep them mobile.
"The public expect the police to have accurate information on-the-go, and cops deserve the best kit to help them cut crime and serve the public."
