Met Police selects Lockheed Martin for command-and-control system upgrade

£90m deal is the first major refresh to the Met's command-and-control systems for 30 years

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has selected Lockheed Martin to lead the introduction of the force's new command and control system.

Worth £90m, the deal represents the first major refresh of the Metropolitan Police's command-and-control system for 30 years.

It'll see Lockheed Martin software engineers provide the force with a new system to ensure both 999 and non-emergency calls are answered efficiently, and with the most effective deployment of police officers.

Part of the deal will see systems built to incorporate predictive analytics and data sharing, harnessing the power of voice, text, applications and social media in order to enhance public interaction and situational awareness within the Met Police's 31,000-strong workforce.

The MPS is pleased to sign a contract with Lockheed Martin," said Richard Thwaite, interim director of digital policing at the Met.

"The changes we are making in the way the MPS uses technology are extremely challenging, but they present fantastic opportunities both to deliver more for our officers and the people of London," he continued, adding: "We look forward to working with our current and new partners to develop our new command and control service."

Stephen Greenhalgh, deputy mayor for policing and crime, also welcomed the deal between Lockheed Martin and the MPS.

"The huge demand placed on the Met Police warrants this investment in a modern command-and-control system so that the police can deploy more effectively and provide a better service to Londoners," he said.

"The system being implemented by Lockheed Martin will give the Met an upgraded capability that will help officers and staff handle all types of calls for service from the public. It will serve London well as the city continues to grow in the years ahead," he added.

Earlier this year, the Met unveiled what it called a "Total Technology" strategy, a £200m investment aimed at transforming crime fighting in London with the help of the latest ICT.