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Met to buy and use the IT system Connect

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.031828

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. Please confirm who made the decision for the Met to buy and use the IT system Connect?
2. Presuming there was a trial period somewhere within the Met, please confirm which boroughs trialled the system and which boroughs relayed it was fit for purpose?
3. Please explain what process of due diligence was completed prior to purchase to ensure that the Connect system was fit to use for front line officers.

Decision

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

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - Please confirm who made the decision for the Met to buy and use the IT system Connect?

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 is located in the public domain: MOPAC - Met Integrated Policing System(MiPS) Full Business Case

Q2 - Presuming there was a trial period somewhere within the Met, please confirm which boroughs trialled the system and which boroughs relayed it was fit for purpose?

Q3 - Please explain what process of due diligence was completed prior to purchase to ensure that the Connect system was fit to use for front line officers.

Due to the nature of an integrated IT solution it was not possible to trial a live version of the system for only a portion of the MPS. This is due to numerous factors including restrictions around data processing, dual running of systems and the requirements of integrated IT systems, especially where there is a requirement to share information with external partners such as the Crown Prosecution Service.

As part of the procurement process, a group of serving officers and staff were able to use and provide feedback on all the systems being considered. Additionally, once CONNECT was selected there were several rounds of testing where both the functionality and the stability of the system were tested and MPS officers and staff were able to use the CONNECT system in a test environment including end to end policing scenarios.

Prior to the procurement process, extensive consultation took place with other forces using CONNECT and Athena (CONNECT is a newer software based on Athena and both products are supplied by NEC Software Solutions). Additionally, consultation occurred with forces who utilised alternative systems and this consultation continued throughout procurement, design and implementation phases and will continue primarily through the MPS involvement in a CONNECT national working group.