Media Release

For Immediate Release
13 February 2013

Mobile technology rollout welcome

The rollout of mobile technology will boost effectiveness of frontline police, Police Association President Greg O'Connor said today.

“This rollout, following a very successful trial, is very welcome. Police should be using all the tools that modern technology makes available to improve their effectiveness. Mobile technology will unquestionably be a boon to the frontline, resulting in greater efficiency and effectiveness, and faster, more responsive service,” Mr O’Connor said.

“There is no detail in the releases, so far, as to where the $4.3 million in capital and $159 million in operating costs is coming from. I can only hope it is additional funding, and not funding that Police have to find on top of the 5% districts are already having to save for the second year running. Budgets are already stretched and service will begin to suffer if they are placed under even more pressure.”

Mr O’Connor cautioned about trying to measure the benefits of new technology in terms of equivalent numbers of police.

“Police’s most infamous IT project, INCIS, was supposed to deliver the equivalent of 540 police for its $100 million plus investment. Productivity benefits – assuming they eventuate – do not translate into cash savings unless you sack staff. As a result, the government of the day had an agreement with Police to shed that number of officers to re-coup the costs of INCIS. We all know how that turned out,” Mr O'Connor said.

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