• Approximately 150 PDAs and 20 MDTs aimed at improving police visibility and efficiency
• NPIA-supported mobile data trial to last eight months, scheduled to commence in December 2007
• Arqiva works with Kelvin Connect to provide complete mobile data solution

Arqiva today announced a contract with Strathclyde Police to provide an eight month mobile data trial supported by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA). Scheduled to commence in December 2007, Strathclyde officers will benefit from 150 Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and 20 Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs). Using a combination of bearers including GPRS and Airwave, the mobile data solution will give officers a secure connection to National and Force databases such as the Police National Computer (PNC), Criminal History System, QAS, the DVLA database, and the Force Contact Directory.

Arqiva is working with Glasgow-based Kelvin Connect Ltd for the trial, who will provide their PRONTO electronic police notebook application, replacing the traditional paper notebook.  The trial will integrate PRONTO with Arqiva's Police Mobile Data Solution on the PDAs, enabling data to be transferred between applications to minimise data input.  Strathclyde officers will also be able to conduct routine tasks whilst on the move, reducing their paperwork.  It is anticipated that this will assist in allowing an improvement in police visibility and efficiency, which will ultimately result in increased public reassurance.

Arqiva's offering encompasses all aspects of the mobile data solution from design and security to commissioning, support, maintenance and training.  The solution supports both PDAs and MDTs on a common secure platform and allows locally installed client applications on the devices, which permits police officers to enter information, transfer data between services and create forms even when out of coverage. To guarantee security, the mobile data solution includes fully accredited data encryption which works over the air and within the server architecture.

Kelvin Connect's PRONTO electronic police notebook will enable officers to make notes, complete statements, and enter all required information at the scene of the incident for 16 processes including crime reports, road crash reports and traffic tickets. This will reduce the burden of paper work from front line officers and streamline back-office processes. The solution and trial will be supported by an Arqiva engineering team based in the Strathclyde region on a 24/7basis throughout the trial to ensure operational continuity.

Chief Inspector Kenny Hodge, Strathclyde Police Mobile Data Project Manager, commented: "We are delighted to be working with Arqiva and Kelvin Connect whom we view as proven, reliable organisations that have an impressive track record of delivering complex systems to other large police forces in the UK. Arqiva and Kelvin Connect were selected following a tender process and together we believe they can deliver the many, sophisticated features that Strathclyde Police requires in order to improve the service we provide to the public."

Peter Harris, Mobile Data Solutions Product Manager at Arqiva, commented: "We are very pleased to have been selected by Strathclyde Police to provide its trial. This is further reinforcement of our level of expertise and experience in the industry. More and more forces are working with Arqiva, and we feel that this is as a result of our knowledge and understanding of a very complex sector. Furthermore, we understand the police's commitment to public safety and develop every new product and service with this in mind. Our systems enable officers more time to patrol, increasing visibility and improving effectiveness by extending access to intelligence information - an objective which is at the very heart of UK police forces."

Meurig Sage, managing director at Kelvin Connect, commented, "Partnering with Arqiva on this official NPIA trial is a fantastic opportunity to combine two technologies to enable our customer to improve police efficiency and meet targets for improved visibility and effectiveness of officers on the street. PRONTO is the most advanced and proven police data capture solution and was pioneered in partnership with Lothian and Borders Police. We are very pleased to see its scope extended through our relationship with Arqiva."