Information about investigative software
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.038097
I note you seek access to the following information:
- How many investigation departments are there within your police force (e.g. criminal, narcotics, traffic, cybercrime, etc)?
- Is your third-party investigative software procured by a centralised IT team or by each investigation department?
- What was your police forces overall spend on third-party investigative software last year? £…k
- In percentage terms, approximately how much of this annual spend was:
a. One-off costs (e.g. installation): …%
b. Recurring software fees: …% - In percentage terms, approximately how has your overall spend, on an annual basis, changed over the past 3 years?
a. Why (e.g. increase in number of users within existing departments, increase in departments, adopting new software, price increases, etc.)? - Please populate the below table, specifying your police force’s third-party investigative software spend by category and listing your current software provider(s).
Note that the total annual spend across the below categories should approximately sum to the overall annual spend on third-party investigative software, as per Q3.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 43(2) – Commercial Interest
Reason for decision
You have requested information in relation to the software providers (question six), this information is considered commercially sensitive and is exempt from disclosure.
Section 43 (2) - Commercial Interests - I have considered the potential harm that could be caused to commercial interests if we disclosed details of the software providers. The systems and the investigative software we use is procured from external companies. Releasing information that would identify the full specifications of the software we use would prejudice the commercial interests not only of our suppliers, but also those of the MPS.
Identifying the specific products, we procure from external providers could lead to other suppliers adapting their products and promoting these at lower prices. Any subsequent loss of business or income would therefore prejudice the commercial interests of our current supplier.
In the event of any future tendering, the release of this information could be seen as an endorsement of particular products and provide a benefit to the suppliers, to the detriment of other rival products.
Disclosure of the requested information would weaken the position of the MPS in a competitive environment, due to a disclosure of market sensitive information. This would have a harmful effect on future partnerships when entering into commercial activities. Disclosure could also impact on the commercial interests of our current suppliers.
Any disclosure, which prejudices the commercial interests of either the MPS, by affecting our ability to source suppliers in a competitive environment, or those of our suppliers, by releasing information specific to their products and which may not be common knowledge, cannot be in the public interest.
Disclosure
Q1 - How many investigation departments are there within your police force (e.g. criminal, narcotics, traffic, cybercrime, etc)?
There are fourteen investigation units within the MPS.
Q2 - Is your third-party investigative software procured by a centralised IT team or by each investigation department?
Centralised Commercial Procurement / IT Team.
Q3 - What was your police forces overall spend on third-party investigative software last year? £…k
The spend was £21,629.00.
Q4 - In percentage terms, approximately how much of this annual spend was:
a. One-off costs (e.g. installation): …%
Nil – there have been no new applications.
Q4b - Recurring software fees: …%
100%.
Q5 - In percentage terms, approximately how has your overall spend, on an annual basis, changed over the past 3 years?
Broadley, it has been flat.
Q5a - Why (e.g. increase in number of users within existing departments, increase in departments, adopting new software, price increases, etc.)?
No new applications with revised commercial deals, managing user numbers off- setting supplier Price changes.
Q6 - Please populate the below table, specifying your police force’s third-party investigative software spend by category and listing your current software provider(s).
| Spend Last Year £k | |
|---|---|
| Case management software | 4,370 |
| Computer aided dispatch software | 10,900 |
| Covert Operations software | 290 |
| Digital recording and transcription software | 661 |
| Other investigative software | 5,408 |
| Total | 21,629 |
Software providers not provided – commercial in confidence.