| The job
of major investigation units is not
an easy one. There are four such teams
supporting major investigations by
bringing intelligence and key information
together. With countless paper based
files of supporting information to
pull together, from numerous sources,
data management, consistency and coherency
are significant tasks. Trying to then
over lay this data on to mapping images,
crime scene photography and then connect
to the forces network, is a complex
and unwieldy task. However, Essex
Police looked to innovative new technology
to help in this effort. The objective
was to use technology to help aid
the investigation in terms of efficiency
and effectiveness.
David Blackiston, MICAS or as he’s
more commonly known, Major Investigation
Support Manager, decided that the
use of interactive whiteboard technology
could help with the cumbersome nature
of pulling in these various sources
of data pertinent to the investigation.
David gained the use of a SMART Board™
interactive whiteboard and then outlined
his approach to his colleagues.
Detective Superintendent Win Bernard,
being technically minded, used it
and immediately saw the advantages.
He then convinced other investigation
officers to use the facility in the
investigation rooms, and the decision
was made, to introduce technology
to support the unit.
Consequently audio visual supplier
Smarter Interactive, based in Reading,
were brought in to deliver the technology
and products to support this initiative,
and David Blackiston gave them a brief
of what they wanted to achieve.
"After the first demonstration
Smarter Interactive clearly understood
all the issues and requirements and
delivered the precise response,"
confirms David. "We had a SMART
Board™ installed in 5 locations
with ceiling mounted projectors. Because
of the low ceiling in one room, they
implemented a SMART Board™ for
Plasma Display, which is an interactive
overlay over a plasma screen.
Because interactive whiteboards display
a projected image from a networked
computer, the technology enables the
presentation of live data. Information
on the force network, electronic mapping
data, digital aerial photography,
and data from other units can be viewed
and discussed. Live map data of the
scene can be zoomed in and out of.
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The information
can be annotated over, areas highlighted,
ideas grouped, and at each stage the
information is automatically time
and date stamped, and all saved for
future use. As a force they are obliged
to keep an audit trail of information
collated during a major investigation.
As David explains "If the question
is asked "what happened at the
briefing?" for anyone not present
the information is immediately available
for presentation or to be forwarded
on by email. Future briefings can
also be prepared for, so they can
be a lot more informed before a meeting."
David describes an example of a planned
raid. "Data, photographs, and
hand drawn plans can be superimposed
over aerial photographs of the area,
and displayed to the unit, adding
realism to the arrangements. We discuss
the plan, offering opportunities for
the unit to build knowledge and ideas
from each other. Any data or historical
information can be immediately tapped
in to. It is a completely new way
of presenting information to investigation
teams."
And there are further developments
in the pipeline. One planned area
for modernisation is the fact that
the 40 teams supporting major investigations,
historically travelled to a central
meeting point, with information that
was no longer live. Today, Essex Police
use Microsoft’s Net Meeting,
audio conferencing application, so
information from each squad is displayed
live on their unit’s PC screens
or projected up on the SMART Board™
for all to see.
This is used in conjunction with
VHS/DVD players and sound systems.
The PCs are linked into the force’s
network so they can bring live data
from other areas into the briefings.
Their Holmes 2 Admin System, I2 analytical
information displays charts to do
with the investigation in hand. This
has bought a whole new way of presenting
briefing information in a fast and
efficient way. Taking this to the
next stage, Smarter Interactive have
introduced David to Bridgit™,
SMART Technology’s data conferencing
application that is set up literally
by a click on the screen.
For further information contact:
Smarter Interactive on: 0118 982 3960
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