Mobile app trial for NSW cops

NSW Police have begun a four-week trial of an iPad app that enables traffic cops to automatically process infringement notices. If the trial is successful, NSW Police estimated it could save 240,000 police hours and $1.2 million per year.

The Australian-developed ‘Mobile Notices’ app enables traffic and general duties officers to complete secure, live lookups of vehicle registration, licence and other information in NSW Police’s central Computerised Operational Policing System (COPS). They can automatically capture relevant geographical location data, attach photos and enter additional data and notes about each incident.

The app captures the data and immediately sends it back to COPS and systems at the NSW State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO) for processing.

NSW Police in Sydney and regional areas involved in the trial are using the app on 20, 4G-enabled Apple iPad Mini devices. The iPads are locked down so data is wiped and the device reset to prevent unauthorised access to personal information.

A police officer can also use the app to inform drivers of the number of points they have lost, the cumulative points they have incurred and the total cost of the fine for the infringement.

An infringement notice is created as a PDF and the driver can ask to receive it immediately by email or MMS or in the post from the SDRO.

The middleware processing the data and connecting the app to COPS and the SDRO, is hosted on Amazon Web Services’ Sydney-based public cloud platform. Data is stored only for the duration of the transaction

The app was created by Gridstone, a local developer engaged by NSW Police early this year. Gridstone worked with frontline police officers, who developed the original idea, as well as NSW Police’s Business Technology Services team, to address the necessary security and integration requirements.

If the trial succeeds, NSW Police will develop a business case to get funding approval before tendering for suppliers.

Superintendent Karen McCarthy, who is managing the trial, said: “Most importantly, if the trial is a success and the app fully deployed, it will give NSW Police the opportunity to spend more time on frontline policing and less on administrative tasks back at the station, which will have a positive impact on both road safety and officer effectiveness.”