Police test IT to fight antisocial behaviour

Two of the five key principles that will underline the trials, announced by the Home Office on 4 January, involve the use of IT. One is the creation of an effective call handling system in which each individual has a log of complaints, created from the first call. The other is to use IT systems that can share information on cases between agencies. The other principles involve using risk assessment tools to identify the most vulnerable victims, a protocol for the management of cases and engaging with the community. Crime prevention minister James Brokenshire said: "It is essential those who raise the alarm and ask for help are listened to and their complaints acted upon promptly. "It is not acceptable that those most in need either slip through the net or are plain ignored. The technology exists to allow agencies to introduce a smart way of handling such complaints and a simple way of sharing information - they need to use it." The police forces involved in the trials, which will run until July, are Avon and Somerset, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, London, South Wales, Sussex and West Mercia. Chief constable Simon Edens, the Association of Chief Police Officers lead on antisocial behaviour, said: "The pilot in eight force areas will focus on improving handling and logging of complaints as well as looking at improvements to IT systems to ensure information from partners is shared more easily. The results of the pilot will help us shape a more consistent approach to dealing with the policing response to local concerns as well as developing our links with partners."