INVESTMENT IN NEW TECHNOLOGY
1. GENERAL
1.1 The CPS has embarked on an IT Modernisation
Programme which will provide CPS staff with modern IT tools and
training to enable the CPS to modernise and improve the way that
it works. The Modernisation Programme is being developed in close
collaboration with other criminal justice organisations under
the auspices of the IBIS (Integrating Business and Information
Systems) initiative. There are two main projects in the programme:
Connect 42 and Compass.
2. CONNECT 42
2.1 Connect 42 has a capital cost of £18
million of which £12 million is provided from the Capital
Modernisation Fund (CMF). The objective of Connect 42 is to raise
the IT literacy of over 5,000 CPS Area staff by providing an IT
infrastructure with appropriate training in all CPS areas. This
will enable people to be better prepared for the introduction
of a full case management system through the Private Finance Initiative
project (Compass), as well as providing useful office automation
tools as early as possible. The following is an outline of the
functions and facilities that will be provided by Connect 42.
3. TIMETABLE
3.1 The project will commence with a pilot
in CPS Sussex. The objective of the pilot is to assess the success
of the implementation in order to determine best practice for
the national rollout.
The timescale for Connect 42 is as follows:
— Supplier selected (Bull Information
Systems)—January 2000.
— CPS Sussex pilot implementation—April
2000 to June 2000.
— National rollout—August 2000
to July 2001.
4. FUNCTIONS
AND FACILITIES
4.1 Connect 42 will give staff access to
personal computer workstations which will have the standard Microsoft
Office software and communication facilities that will allow:
— e-mail exchange of messages and attachments
between CPS staff, Criminal Justice Organisations and other Government
Departments that have connections to the Government Secure Intranet
(GSI) or Police National Network (PNN2);
— a developing CPS Intranet service
providing access to the CPS knowledge base;
— commercial electronic legal reference
material, i.e. Blackstone and Lawtel;
— internet web sites, such as legal
journals, legal databases and directories.
5. TRAINING
5.1 The Connect 42 project will include
targeted training and back-filling for lawyer absences. There
are four elements to the training programme:
(a) tailored classroom training courses;
(b) virtual tutor service (advice from remote
tutor);
(c) online training packages; and
(d) desk side support training.
6. SUPPORT
6.1 The supplier (Bull Information Systems)
will provide a support regime that will minimise CPS staff effort.
Areas are expected to appoint local "champions" who
would provide assistance to staff who need it on a day to day
business level.
7. COMPASS
7.1 The second project will provide full
case management facilities including an electronic file received
from the Police (NSPIS Case Preparation System), case tracking,
automated document management and production and management information
as well as communication links and interfaces to other criminal
justice organisations' systems. The project is being conducted
using the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
7.2 The timetable for Compass is:
— Summer 2000—OJEC advertisement
for the new contract;
— December 2001—award of contract;
— January-December 2002—development
of case management system;
— January-December 2003—new system
to be rolled out.
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