Keyboard cops type same info into 13 different systems
Police chief claims lack of technology is to blame
Police have spent thousands of hours keying in the same domestic abuse case details into 13 different systems.
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has also admitted victims of crime are being repeatedly asked for the same information because of old IT networks.
Campaigners have warned that the procedure is leaving victims distressed.
An official police report states: “This is not a sustainable operating model. We provide the people of Scotland with an excel lent policing service but we do this despite our lack of technology.
“We do this by manual work- arounds and by wasting hours, which should be spent in our communities being visible, driving to and from stations to get information, hours keying the same information into mul t iple systems– 13 dif ferent systems for a domestic violence incident.”
Campaigners have warned victims are being unnecessarily traumatised.
Scottish Women’s Aid said: “It’s difficult to see how inputting data 13 times for one incident of domestic abuse is a good use of anyone’s time.
“As this report highlights, this is more than an inconvenience. It subjects victimsurvivors of domestic abuse to significant distress in having to relive and provide the same information multiple times.
“This is ‘service- generated risk’ – unintentional but harmful procedures that re-victimise women and children.”
The report on digital data and information communications technology also reveals officers come to work, take off their wearable technology, lock away their smartphones and are then handed a notebook and pen to go out on the streets.
Livingstone added: “We have to ask victims repeatedly to provide us with the same information. “This is distressing and is a result of us not being able to record information once and, where appropriate, to allow us to share that digitally with our public sector partners.
“If we could do that, we could provide a much better service, with better outcomes for the most vulnerable and increase the efficiency of the justice, health, social services and education sectors by working more effectively in partnership and by reducing the overall cost of service delivery.”
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor added: “There has been significant under- investment in technology in policing since well before 2013 and we’ve not been able to make use of some of the investment available.
“Despite this, our officers and staff have continued to deliver to the best of their abi l ity by making huge personal commitments to get the job done.
“The present situation is unsustainable. The pressure on our officers and staff to work around the fai l ings in our technology and to meet the new threats will move beyond their ability to cope.”