Kent Police selects Civica for County-wide Number Plate Recognition
15 June 2004, Sheffield... Civica plc, one of the UK’s most experienced providers of public sector consulting, software and services, has won a five-year framework agreement to supply Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems to the Kent Police Authority. The framework will include the implementation of a variety of solutions in Kent, the only county with a fixed link to continental Europe. The parties to the agreement recognise the vast potential to deliver multiple ANPR solutions that will be at the forefront in the fight against crime.
While ANPR technology has been employed around the country to identify suspect vehicles and mount specific operations, Kent Police has now embarked on a move from the traditional intercept role of ANPR into a more mainstream intelligence role, making more effective use of the data the systems can deliver. Working in partnership with the South East Region and under the umbrella of the National Strategy, Kent is utilising a network of cameras to capture vehicle movements within a central data warehouse.
David McCann, Assistant Chief Constable in Kent, leading the project within the county and the South East Region, said, “Our intention is to provide a strategic framework for ANPR development within the region that will allow forces to build their systems in a modular way. It is essential, however, that the modules build a fully integrated system.
” Under a collaborative project, Civica will also be working with Kent Police, the University of Kent and Vehicle Intelligence Ltd to implement an ANPR data centre within Kent. This will be linked to new systems installed in petrol stations, retail centres, hospitals and other commercial premises.
“New ideas for the best use of this technology are coming from the people using it”, said Dave Scotton, Enforcement Technical Director, Civica Systems Ltd. “It will be operational innovation that will provide the direction for the future development of ANPR and Kent Police offers an excellent example of this”.
About Civica plc
Civica (www.civica.co.uk) is one of the UK’s most experienced providers of consulting, software systems and managed services to the public sector. Supplying many organisations in the UK, Australia and the USA, including over 700 local authorities, the company has an 18-year history of delivering effective software solutions to local government, police, healthcare, criminal justice and education organisations. Civica Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary, is an approved Prime Contractor for software in the UK Government’s GCat procurement catalogue. The company employs approximately 450 people and has a recent track record of profits growth.