Gloucestershire Police is about to begin a trial with Extent Software’s Collaborator application.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 15, 2007 -- Gloucestershire Police is about to begin a trial with Extent Software’s Collaborator application, which is designed to help share data and manage incidents across agencies. Currently the trial is being rolled out to include the force and the Highways Agency, The BAPCO Journal speaks to Stuart Ashdown, Command and Control Applications Manager, Gloucestershire Police to identify what the trial aims to achieve…

The need to share data across agencies is a growing requirement, and clear directive to aid the improvement of efficient management of incidents. Yet with many disparate IT systems it is certainly an area that can be problematic. However, now, thanks to a solution developed by Extent Software, known as Collaborator information can be shared securely across multiple applications, multiple platforms, multiple networks and with that across multiple agencies and departments.
This secure data-sharing protocol provides a user-friendly tool for more efficient collaboration. And, like Direct Electronic Incident Transfer (DEIT) the protocol essentially allows the sending and receiving of documents (such as in incident) along with the subsequent document updates to and from third parties.
Discussing the trial, Stuart Ashdown, Command and Control Applications Manager, Gloucestershire Police said, “Data integrity and efficiency savings are the key drivers behind the trial.”

“Currently when a 999 call is received if we need to share the information with, for instance, the Highways Agency, our control room operator will communicate the information via telephone, requiring both parties to input and log the incident. Collaborator, removes the need for voice contact and even more importantly provides an audit trail of the incident. Allowing us to see, in real time, when the incident has been actioned.”
“One of the most important aspects, of this, will be the time savings we will incur, since there will be no requirement to input data more than once, and a simple touch of a button will ensure the collaborating agency (in this instance the Highways Agency) will receive all of the information pertinent to procure an efficient incident response, reducing the need for voice communication.”

“As is quite often the case in a major incident scenario, the level of 999 calls increase, therefore being able to send critical data instantly to a partnering agency to aid the response to an incident is a tremendous time saving, and enables call takers to focus on answering 999 calls.”
As with all police forces, Gloucestershire Police has an overflow system in place for call taking, commenting Ashdown said, “The Collaborator could also help with the business continuity element of the service. For example, when 999 calls flow to the receptor force, the information can be retrieved instantly at the host force through the command and control solution.”

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