Union waiting for a tender PROMIS
A TENDER for the replacement of beleaguered police IT system PROMIS is set to be announced by the end of October.
Earlier this year Chief Minister and Police Minister Michael Gunner announced a $45 million plan to replace the system in April.
PROMIS suffered a crippling five-day meltdown last year, forcing police to perform urgent upgrades on a system which cost the force $1 in the late 1990s.
An NT Police spokesman said no details on the new sys- tem would be revealed until the tender was officially announced.
The system is expected to allow integration with smart technology and offer police on the ground a more user friendly program.
When PROMIS broke down last year, police were not able to access vital information including criminal background checks while on the road.
NT Police Association president Paul McCue said the previous failure of PROMIS was a safety and security issue for NT Police and the community.
He said it illustrated the im- portance of an operational IT system.
“The replacement of PROMIS, like all equipment and technology that our police use every day, is integral to their serving the community,” he said.
“We expect that the police force and any third parties involved are applying best practice principles for the rollout of the new system.
“We appreciate the development and introduction phases will take time, however it would be the expectation of our association that the current system should not fail again, leaving our members and the public at risk.”
Attorney-General Natasha Fyles told the annual NT Police Association conference that the Government was committed to delivering the upgraded computer system.
“We have committed $45 million to overhauling the outdated PROMIS computer system, something that will help you out on the beat every day in your jobs,” she said.
“I see the frustration when I work with you as a local member around the issues that the system doesn’t deliver. We’re committed to delivering police resources, the infrastructure to help you do your job.”