South Wales Police launch the UK's
first 'virtual' police station
Later this month Dr Who will be back on TV, but it is not
only the Doctor who has had a 21st Century makeover.
The TARDIS, the traditional blue police box is also making a comeback.
South Wales Police today (March 17, 2005) launched the UK’s
first “virtual” police station. The interactive kiosk has materialised
at Mumbles Police Station, Swansea.
In partnership with BT, South Wales Police has installed a Multimedia
Kiosk in the police station’s renovated foyer. People can use the
Kiosk’s videophone, to speak directly to an officer at the nearest
Police Control Room 24-hours a day, seven days a week. In an emergency,
the foyer can be locked to provide a safe refuge for anyone under threat.
It is the first location in the South Wales Police area to use the interactive
technology that will be installed across the region during 2005 in a bid
to use manpower effectively.
As the rollout continues in South Wales, selected street BT phone boxes
will be changed to specially branded police Multimedia Kiosks. Kiosks
will also be installed in other police station foyers, and in locations
such as supermarkets, and hospital Accident and Emergency units.
The Kiosks will offer e-mail and internet access including free access
to the South Wales Police web site, and later in the rollout will give
users “click to dial” voice access to public sector partners
and the ability to print documents.
Barbara Wilding QPM, Chief Constable South Wales Police, said: “Today
is a significant development both for the force and for the people of
Mumbles because it signifies our intention to improve the standard of
service being provided by our station enquiry offices.
“South Wales Police has 114 operational police stations, the vast
majority of which were built during a period when people were much less
mobile. As a consequence some of our stations are not where we would put
them if we were building them today.
“These problems are not unique to the police service. Most local
authorities and public sector organisations are in similar positions.
We all need to be able to satisfy public expectation and provide a standard
of service they deserve and increasingly expect.
“We would like to see these Kiosks in every community. We are currently
working with a wide range of partners who would also like to make public
access to their information easily available and looking at areas where
we can jointly locate kiosks.
“It is an exciting project that is aimed at enhancing our service
provision and I hope that this signals the beginning of a new era in the
way in which we serve our communities here in South Wales.”
Paul Hendron, director of BT Payphones, said: “Although the concept
of police forces using Multimedia Kiosks is not new, developing videophones
as part of the package is.
Now that this function is available, it will be replicated by constabularies
throughout the UK. BT has already received a wealth of interest from other
public organisations that have identified the benefits of offering customers
‘face-to-face’ communication using this technology.”
To ensure the external Multimedia Kiosks are installed cost effectively
and to encourage public use, South Wales Police has started talks with
other public sector organisations within the region. It is hoped that
by working in partnership, the Multimedia Kiosks will not only facilitate
direct access to the police, but also offer local government services
online.
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