mailto:[FOI #4034 email]
5 December 2008
Dear Mr Chapman
I am writing with reference to your request for information regarding ISIS
Programme, dated 10 November 2008, made under section 1(1) of the Freedom of
Information Act.
You asked for the following information:
Does ISIS exist? If yes what is the ISIS programme and what are its objectives?
When (date) was ISIS officially launched?
Which Police Forces/Services are piloting and/or pursuing the programme?
Is there an official programme/plan for its implementation?
Who is heading the ISIS programme?
Is there an ISIS programme board? If yes who is on it?
Where can I get more information about ISIS?
When (date) was ISIS formulated?
Who is the Chair of ISIS?
When (date) did ISIS become official NPIA Policy?
When (date) did ISIS become official HO policy?
The aim of ISIS (Information Systems Improvement Strategy) is to make a
significant difference to the day-to-day experience of frontline officers as they
deliver services to the public. It will transform the way information services
(including IT) are delivered to the police service. The programme is led by the
demands of operational policing and focus strongly on the requirements of front line
officers and staff and on providing better information to citizens in order to promote
access to the police and further improve public confidence.
ISIS is one of the NPIA’s key programmes and implements recommendations in the
Government’s recent Green Paper on Policing1 about the future development of
information systems and the need to reduce bureaucracy. It links to the National
Reducing Bureaucracy Adviser’s work on better processes, the police service’s work
to implement the Bichard recommendations and the recent Casey, Hannigan and
Magee reports.
1 “From the neighbourhood to the national: policing our communities together”, published July 2008,
http://files.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/policing_green_paper.pdf
National Policing Improvement Agency
Working with the police service, ISIS will transform the way police information
systems are developed, procured, implemented and managed across the police
service. The ISIS vision is to deliver measurably more efficient and effective
policing by developing, executing, and maintaining a national strategy for
information services that directly address many of the challenges facing the police
from neighbourhood policing to counter-terrorism.
ISIS is jointly led by ACPO (Chief Constable Sean Price – Cleveland Police) and the
NPIA (Richard Earland, NPIA Chief Information Officer). The ISIS programme board
is made up of the NPIA, ACPO, Association of Police Authorities, the Home Office,
HMIC, Cabinet Office and the Criminal Justice System. Working with our partners
ISIS directly supports the police’s services central role of protecting the public.
The information is enclosed in the format you requested.
Does ISIS exist? If yes what is the ISIS programme and what are its objectives?
The Policing Green Paper titled 'From the neighbourhood to the national: policing
our communities together'
(http://files.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/policing_green_paper.pdf, Chapter 2, pages
42-45) includes a set of recommendations for the future strategy of police
information management which are the basis for the ISIS programme.
The aims of ISIS are to:
• develop better information services for the public – improving confidence;
• get information to front line officers and police staff more effectively – so they
have the information they need to do their jobs; propose the future map of
police information systems as a target state to be developed to 2015;
• create a roadmap for convergence – building on force and national plans and
proposing new investment where necessary;
• promote better procurement – to drive down costs in police IT and
strengthening the market for police IS;
• and create a new operating model for IS development in policing.
When (date) was ISIS formulated?
ISIS was formulated following publication of the Policing Green Paper (published
17th July 2008).
When (date) was ISIS officially launched?
Is there an official programme/plan for its implementation?
This is being developed
When (date) did ISIS become official NPIA Policy?
When (date) did ISIS become official HO policy?
© NPIA (National Policing Improvement Agency) 2007
National Policing Improvement Agency
The Policing Green Paper, containing the recommendations for the future strategy
of police information management which form the basis for the ISIS programme,
was published on 17th July 2008. ISIS will be reporting back to the Home
Secretary and the National Policing Board on the 25th November to seek approval
for the next stage of the strategy.
Which Police Forces/Services are piloting and/or pursuing the programme?
We are working with all Police Forces in England and Wales to develop the strategy.
Who is heading the ISIS programme?
Who is the Chair of ISIS?
Is there an ISIS programme board? If yes who is on it?
ISIS is led by a programme board chaired by Sean Price. Richard Earland is the
SRO. The ISIS programme board is made up of the NPIA, ACPO, Association of
Police Authorities, the Home Office, HMIC, Cabinet Office, the Criminal Justice
System and the Police IT Directors.
Where can I get more information about ISIS?
Further information will be published on the NPIA website. You may contact the
ISIS team on [email address] (please note that this address is not
appropriate for FOI requests or questions outside ISIS – please continue to use
[email address]).
We take our responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act seriously but, if
you feel your request has not been properly handled or you are otherwise
dissatisfied with the outcome of your request, you have the right to complain. We
will investigate the matter and endeavour to reply within 3 – 6 weeks. You should
write to:
Gavin McKinnon
Head of Secretariat
National Policing Improvement Agency
10-18 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0NN
E-mail:
[email address]
If you are still dissatisfied following our internal review, you have the right, under
section 50 of the Act, to complain directly to the Information Commissioner. Before
considering your complaint, the Information Commissioner would normally expect
you to have exhausted the complaints procedures provided by the NPIA. The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
© NPIA (National Policing Improvement Agency) 2007
National Policing Improvement Agency
FOI Compliance Team (complaints)
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Further information about the NPIA is routinely published on our website at
www.npia.police.uk or through our publication scheme. If you require any further
assistance in connection with this request please contact us at our address below.
Yours sincerely,
Sara Alderman
Strategy Unit
Information and Communications Technology and Science Directorate
© NPIA (National Policing Improvement Agency) 2007
