Warwickshire Police had an ageing and underperforming mobile solution, which lowered morale and created inefficient processes. They needed a mobile system that ensured security and reliability, while allowing flexibility for the future.
BT partnered with Apple to roll out new devices to Warwickshire Police, which integrated with existing systems and helped them securely record crucial information. The devices were also powered by EE, the UK’s best network, with voice and mobile data included.
The new mobile solution has improved efficiency, delivery and officer morale, helping Warwickshire Police tackle crime and support the community of 600,000 people they serve.
The challenge
UK policing faces challenges in modernising data and technology. Nationally, police forces are under increasing pressure to meet growing digital demands to better protect the communities they serve, as highlighted in the National Policing Digital Strategy 2020-2030. Officer morale is a significant challenge, too. A recent Onward survey revealed that 87% of police officers reported either low or very low morale in their forces, highlighting the fundamental need for better training and tools.
Like many forces across the UK, Warwickshire Police was battling with these significant challenges. Their legacy mobile devices and solutions simply weren’t fit for purpose. Vital applications were frequently crashing, and poor battery life was rendering devices virtually unusable for frontline officers trying to carry out their day-to-day duties. This was severely hampering operational efficiency and effectiveness, forcing officers to return to time-consuming paper-based policing.
The challenge to effectively utilise digital tools further contributed to reduced morale within the force. This also placed increasing pressure on the ICT department, with the volume of non-workable devices directly contributing to a lower uptake of mobile use across the force.
Warwickshire Police was eager to innovate its mobile estate. Recognising the operational benefits of a new approach, their appointed Head of Digital Services, Steve Maxwell, saw this as a unique opportunity to lead the way. He knew they needed a partner with the expertise and capabilities to deliver a modern, secure, mobile solution, and lay the foundations for a smarter, digital future. And so, leveraging our reliability, world-leading mobile partnerships, and professional services and with their existing EE Airtime contract with BT already in place, he turned to us to assist in their transformation as a trusted partner.
Our existing mobile technology was not fit for purpose; we were often seeing devices turned off, left in drawers and going out of compliance, rendering them inoperable. Once we shortlisted a device, a competitive tender process was undertaken to obtain the best packed mobile solution available, which saw BT as the successful supplier. This worked well for the force due to BT/EE’s position in the market and partnerships they held with device manufacturers.
The solution
Warwickshire Police needed a new, innovative mobile solution that would provide the operational benefits their officers craved. But the existing landscape of UK policing, heavily influenced by a national programme that had fostered an ecosystem built around established operating systems, presented a significant hurdle for considering alternative mobile platforms like Apple iOS. Despite this, the current challenges faced by Warwickshire Police prompted us to explore all available options.
We worked closely with the force, carrying out comprehensive device testing across various market-leading manufacturers to find the right solution. And with a dedicated budget for a device refresh, presenting a window of opportunity, we leveraged our long-standing partnership with Apple to support us across the project. We reviewed several Apple models, assessing their form factor and features to meet the specific needs of the force. And we set up an extended trial of Apple devices so frontline officers could experience their capabilities firsthand.
We were able to get both BT and Apple technical support experts in front of Warwickshire Police to share their knowledge and address any concerns, including Apple specialists from the US who shared their experiences of working with the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) and NYPD (New York Police Department). This joint partnership and level of support instilled confidence in Warwickshire Police stakeholders that our proposed mobile solution was the best way forward.
Powered by EE, the UK’s best network, with 5G in more places than any other UK provider, the solution included mobile voice and data, and the rollout of a new mobile fleet of iPhone 14 Plus devices and accessories, configured to their specific requirements. The iPhone 14 Plus’s 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, all-day battery life, IP68-rating and personal safety features would empower frontline officers to carry out their day-to-day tasks faster, safer and more efficiently, enhancing productivity and their ability to better serve the community. Crucially, its technology would also integrate seamlessly with the force’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform, used to securely manage their 1,600-strong mobile fleet.
Through our close collaboration and discovery sessions, we also identified an additional critical requirement: the need to monitor SMS messages and internal communications sent and received by officers and staff in compliance with the UK’s Lawful Business Monitoring policy, to ensure efficient service, integrity, and accountability. Recognising a gap in the existing recording capabilities of the iOS platform, we introduced Warwickshire Police to our partner, Kerv, to implement a Mobile Voice Recording solution that allows them to securely capture SMS messages while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
To ensure a smooth transition, Apple provided several days of professional services as part of the contract, supporting Warwickshire Police with the deployment of the new Apple devices. In addition to our round-the-clock UK customer support, we also established a framework for ongoing dedicated support, including regular quarterly reviews with the force to ensure the service continued to meet their evolving needs.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for digital transformation. That’s why we thoroughly explored models, capabilities and device features across all manufacturers, with comprehensive device testing to find the right fit for Warwickshire Police.
The result
The successful collaboration between our mobility specialists, Apple and Warwickshire Police has delivered a transformative impact, resulting in significant improvements to operational efficiency, officer morale, and overall service delivery. Frontline officers have embraced the new devices, and we’ve seen a 300% increase in data usage highlighting their effectiveness and the successful adoption of the new Apple ecosystem. Feedback from officers has also been overwhelmingly positive. Empowered by their new Apple devices and accessories, they’re able to work smarter and faster, enhancing their ability to better serve the community, while Mobile Voice Recording has ensured accountability and compliance with the UK’s Lawful Business Monitoring policy.
Quantitative data on specific crime response times and ticket resolution rates are still being compiled by Warwickshire Police, but our internal reporting has shown a positive impact on their ability to carry out their day-to-day duties and tackle crime more effectively.
Working with Apple and Warwickshire Police has uncovered valuable insights and opened up exciting new opportunities to further improve the force’s ICT infrastructure, including eSIM deployment across their Apple mobile estate, BT Smart Messaging to enhance public service, and Microsoft Teams Phone Mobile, a platform specifically built for mobile-first working. Together with our partner Asecca, we’ll also be introducing device recycling – a secure and sustainable way to upgrade their fleet that not only reduces the force’s electronic waste but saves money on their monthly EE Airtime contract.
The project marks a significant milestone in UK policing, with Warwickshire Police becoming the first force to fully embrace an iOS and iPhone-based mobile solution. Together with Apple, we’ve delivered cutting-edge technology, not only modernising the force but enhancing public safety.
The success of this project demonstrates the power of partnership. By working together and leveraging cutting-edge technology, we can drive meaningful change in UK policing
