Runnymede Beat
Runnymede - Tuesday 23rd August 2011 - Our public launch marks the completion of the first Home Office mobile policing innovation project. In a revolutionary step for UK policing, our free iPhone application for Surrey Police enables people to see local information in real time without having to sign up to a website or search Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, or Facebook. The new free mobile App encourages greater community engagement at very low cost, within a framework of governance and without wasting police time. It also aims to empower local residents to fight crime in a safe and monitored environment.
Runnymede - 14th May 2011 - We went live on Thursday @runnymedebeat. A truly revolutionary project using public networks and low cost phones (Google Androids lent to us by Vodafone that look to cost about £99). The staff at Runnymede are trained, and using the app to tweet out what they are doing. Not as a marketing campaign with a big bang, but as a part of their work and engagement with the community. Our app was build by local twitter developers from (the #devnest community which we run) at a fraction of the cost of a traditional Police IT project. The use of low cost public networks in this way is unique and asks serious questions about ultra expensive handset and app procurement in the public sector. These phones are £99 and have a Camera, Browser, fast HSPA/3G Internet access, WifI etc. They are not rugged but they are small and light compared to the £1000 slow old fashioned terminals with 'secure' access. And that means every officer can have one, they are not a burden, they are the way people work now. Full Blog post here.
BBC London News, 20th Febrary 2011 The groundswell of positive interest in our mobile phone engagement application for Surrey Police led to a BBC London TV news interview and pre release demonstration. It is extremely unusual to get this much attention from pre-release software. Everyone remembers software vapourware of the past. We are delighted with the coverage so far. All positive. No negatives. Now we are head down completing the demonstrator for delivery into officers hands in neighbourhood teams in Runnymede next month. Check back here in the blog for updates - Angus Fox, 24 February 2011
