Transforming network services for a major rural police force

Challenge

Our client is a UK police force that protects and serves approximately half a million people across an area of more than 7,500 km2. The force operates in one of the UK’s most rural environments, seeing frontline officers dealing with crimes and incidents in disparate and remote locations. A fail-proof networking infrastructure is therefore essential to equip officers to perform their duties effectively. But it also forms the foundations from which to realise many of the force’s digital policing ambitions, in line with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC)’s Policing 25 vision and the National Policing Digital Strategy.

We were initially approached by this police force when it was nearing the end of its existing managed network services contract. This triggered an opportunity to review the strategy for network services, to harness opportunities emerging from cloud-based technology, improve the quality of network services across the region, rationalise costs, and better support frontline officers in their day-to-day work.

The incumbent network service was inconsistent in its coverage. This meant that officers in smaller villages and remote locations faced challenges in uploading shift data, accessing regional and national databases, and focusing on serving the public rather than navigating technological limitations.

Recognising all of this, the force’s Chief Technology Officer saw the opportunity to fully review its network services approach. We were asked to help develop a new strategic plan to transform network capabilities in support of the force’s digital policing aspirations. Our client needed to understand the options, costs, and benefits of an upgraded networking capability, while ensuring that the new strategy kept the working needs of police officers firmly at its core.

Solution

by examining the current network environment to establish a baseline of existing technology, costs, operations, and supply chain considerations. We identified areas for service improvement, plus opportunities to benefit from new technologies, better supplier services and reduced costs.

We then conducted a series of stakeholder interviews with both frontline and technology staff. We focused on the aspirations of those delivering frontline policing, and the networked capabilities needed to support those aspirations.  We organised a workshop for the force’s own technology experts where we presented the options, modelling scenarios and costs to help them decide on the best way forward.

A full network refresh was identified as the best approach, enabling the force to extend the new network across all locations. We produced the strategic plan, articulating the target networking state, a procurement roadmap and timeline, a risk analysis, and a full breakdown of capital and operational costs versus benefits. This informed the business case, equipping the CTO to gain approval and proceed.

Our client then asked us to support them through the Crown Commercial Services procurement process. We used our extensive public sector experience to develop an appropriate procurement strategy, requirements specification, framework agreement, and contractual document pack. We liaised with prospective suppliers, evaluated responses and pricing, and summarised the data so that our client could make an informed decision. Finally, we supported our client through contract negotiation and onboarding, resulting in a new 5 +1 +1-year term contract award.

Outcome

Our work has supported this police force to transform their data network capabilities and achieve significant benefits. The new, loud-ready networking platform is being expanded to all locations, enabling every police officer to access the network quickly and reliably, and setting the stage for enhanced collaboration with other regional ‘blue lights’ in the future. Operating costs have been reduced by approximately 10% per annum, while cybersecurity and event management have been significantly improved. We have also ensured that the new contract allows our client to move to a hybrid management model, where the force’s own IT team can handle changes and requests, reducing supplier reliance and improving IT service for end users.

This police force is now equipped to deliver better, more efficient frontline policing, even in remote locations. The foundations have been laid to quickly harness future opportunities as technology evolves, in support of our client’s digital policing aspirations for the future.

“The Mason Advisory team were experienced, knowledgeable and very easy to talk to, feeling like part of the team. They took a personal interest in the project’s success, never seeming to be constrained by time or cost, and were always there to help.

I don’t think we could have achieved what we did without them.”

Project Manager, representing our client

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