Connect Policing System

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.031546

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. Please provide the name of the officer who held overall responsibility for selecting and implementing the roll-out of the Connect computer system.
2. Please indicate their rank at the time of the project rolling out Connect, and their present rank.
3. Please indicate what other products were considered and rejected as part of the selection process.
4. Please indicate if Connect is based on Athena which is used by other forces.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Questions 1 and 2

Q1 - Please provide the name of the officer who held overall responsibility for selecting and implementing the roll-out of the Connect computer system.
Q2 - Please indicate their rank at the time of the project rolling out Connect, and their present rank.

The process to select an integrated IT system was subject to a significant tender process during which CONNECT was considered amongst alternative providers. There was no individual responsible for the decision to select CONNECT; a number of criteria were considered, and compared, to identify the preferred supplier, in this instance CONNECT. Engagement with the preferred supplier was then approved with oversight from MOPAC, as is the process for a procurement of this scale. A record of MOPAC’s decision can be located in the public domain: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/pcd_340_mips_fbc_-_signed.pdf

Q3 - Please indicate what other products were considered and rejected as part of the selection process.

With regard to the procurement process, there were a number of bidders but this was eventually narrowed down to three potential suppliers who went through the full procurement selection process.
- Northgate (Now NEC Software Solutions) - CONNECT Solution.
- PA/Niche – Niche RMS solution.
- Capita (system not in production but was being developed).

NEC Software Solutions provide a version of the CONNECT system to the Athena consortium of forces, further details are available on the NEC Software Solutions website.

Q4 - Please indicate if Connect is based on Athena which is used by other forces.

Yes however the version of Connect used by Athena, the MPS and wider forces varies.