Damovo on NPIA's most wanted list

Integrator in top three for NPIA framework agreement to help digitise police interviews

Damovo is one of three firms pre-selected for the Digital Interviewing Framework Arrangement with policing body the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA).

The NPIA’s contract is aimed at helping forces switch from using audio cassettes to digital technology to record and store police interviews.

Damovo joins Capita Secure Information Systems (formerly SunGard Public Sector) and UltraElectronics AudioSoft as the suppliers of networked digital technology to all forces across the UK.

The police currently carry out over two million interviews a year, and about 90 per cent of these are done using audio cassettes. These interviews then have to be transcribed, copied and delivered to all parties involved in criminal investigation which can take up to three weeks.

In addition, the interviews have to be stored, with some forces squirreling away more than 750,000 of them.

Nick Deyes, head of information at the NPIA, said: “This framework arrangement is about using technology to help forces improve efficiency, security and reducing costs. It demonstrates the potential savings and value for money that the NPIA can deliver for the police service in these financially challenging times.

“However, this is not just about saving money,” he said. “It is also about transforming and improving the way the police service and criminal justice agencies retain and retrieve evidence. Better use of information such as police interviews helps to speed up the criminal justice process and bring offenders to justice quicker.”

Paul Butcher, managing director of Damovo, said: "We are delighted Damovo CODES has been recognised by the NPIA as a recommended best-practice ICT solution for digital interviews.

"As analogue systems reach end of life, digital media-based solutions are widely accepted as the way forward."