Cable&Wireless Worldwide Trusted Partner for Police National Network

LONDON, November 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

NPIA and Cable&Wireless Worldwide have agreed to take the Police National Network (PNN) Framework Arrangement to its full term. Originally designated by the Home Office as a replacement to the fixed network used to access the Police National Computer, the current version is known as PNN3 and has been operational since November 2006.

Cable&Wireless Worldwide, a leading provider of mission critical communications, has run the PNN Framework since its inception in the early 1990s. The current arrangement will run until 31st October 2013, which is seven years since the original PNN3 Framework Arrangement was signed, and will be worth an estimated £105 million in the course of its full term.

The PNN3 Framework Arrangement allows C&W Worldwide to supply managed voice, data, video, internet and hosting services to all police forces in the UK, as well as major departments and local councils in the wider criminal justice community.  These services enable the secure transmission of data between police forces, criminal justice and police-related agencies.  

PNN3 offers a common communications platform capable of meeting the information exchange requirements of the police force. The framework ensures that all forces and agencies are working to the same robust levels of security so that police data is not compromised.  Services which are accessed or provided via PNN3 include:

• Police National Computer (PNC): a national information system which holds details of people, vehicles, crimes and property that can be electronically accessed by the police and other criminal justice agencies
• The National DNA Database (NDNAD)
• Managed Video Conferencing: internal and force-to-force or force-to-agency communications
• ViSOR: a UK-wide system used to store and share information and intelligence on those individuals who have been identified as posing a risk of serious harm to the public.
• Accelerated Package (AP): a mobile data solution for UK police forces, providing interfaces with national and local systems via a handheld device, such as a BlackBerry or PDA, allowing officers to send, receive, access and update vital information while out on patrol.  
• Video ID Parade: a virtual private network which provides a national database of electronically recorded images of volunteers that are used in identity parades. Viper suites, located in police stations, in over 100 locations across the UK have access to this database.
• Police National Database (PND):  a national system which allows all UK police forces to collaborate more efficiently, sharing and directly accessing local information on a national basis for the detection and prevention of crime.

• IDENT1 WAN: a Wide Area Network for the National Fingerprint Database, providing the Police service in England, Scotland and Wales the ability to perform a search on a fingerprint identification system, and the capability to search palm prints and marks.
• ANPR Connectivity: the Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras read vehicle number plates using optical character recognition software. The strategic aim of the police service in using ANPR is to target criminals on the roads. The ANPR Programme also works with the Olympic Delivery Authority to ensure ANPR makes a major contribution to the London 2012 Olympic Games security operation.

Critically, this framework agreement also builds on the Memorandum of Understanding C&W Worldwide signed with the Government in September last year, as PNN3 will deliver a guaranteed £1.1 million to the PNN3 User Community per annum in savings as a minimum.  PNN3 therefore can provide significant cost savings through economies of scale.

Sue Moffatt, NPIA head of Commercial and Procurement said: "Communication is the lifeblood of the police service. It is essential that the police service can communicate seamlessly and consistently across the criminal justice system. PNN3 provides a safe and secure network for police officers to store, send, access and record information some of which could provide crucial evidence in an investigation.

"This agreement is also another good example of how the Police can look to provide more for less to ensure frontline officers are supported."

Brian Woodford, Managing Director of Public Sector and Partners, Cable&Wireless Worldwide, says: "With our extensive, highly resilient and secure network, we're a trusted partner for UK Government.  We've delivered the Police National Network service for over 15 years, which is testament to the fact we work closely with our customers to fulfil regional, local and national requirements. Our wealth of experience in this sector ensures we can facilitate greater communication between forces and secure access to centralised data.  The framework makes interoperability easier whilst driving cost efficiencies, and we're delighted to take the framework to its full term. "

About Cable&Wireless Worldwide

Cable&Wireless Worldwide is a leading global telecoms company providing a wide range of high-quality managed voice, data, hosting and IP-based services and applications to large multinational companies, governments, carrier customers and resellers across the UK, Asia Pacific, India, Middle East & Africa, Continental Europe and North America. Established in the 1860s, Cable&Wireless Worldwide helps more than 6,000 organisations deliver their goals. The Group's vision is to be the first choice for mission critical communications.

Reaching 20,500km in length, Cable&Wireless Worldwide owns the UK's largest fibre network dedicated to business users of telecoms, and provides ubiquitous nationwide access through a combination of fibre, digital, microwave, radio and leased circuits. The network has presence in over 400 towns and cities in the UK, with more than 850 unbundled exchanges covering 55% of the population.

Internationally, Cable&Wireless Worldwide's global next-generation network (NGN) stretches to more than 500,000km, including interests in 69 global cable systems, enabling connectivity to 153 countries. The Group's IP-based Multi-Service Platform operates across the NGN, offering a single environment on which voice and data applications can be converged to drive business efficiencies. Cable&Wireless Worldwide's network is uniquely designed with inbuilt resilience.

With more than 6,200 colleagues globally, Cable&Wireless Worldwide is committed to delivering exceptional customer service and developing long term partnerships with its customers.

To find out more, please visit http://www.cw.com.

CABLE&WIRELESS WORLDWIDE

Katie Dove, Head of UK PR, +44(0)7733-392514

Cable&Wireless Worldwide Press Office, +44(0)1344-818-888