Officers had to rely on radio or mobile phone communication for intelligence, then return to land-based stations to file evidence and report crimes. Witnesses had to report to a police station in person. The Police knew they had to improve communications to win the fight against crime. In response, ICL developed a mobile communication system in partnership with Libertel, the Dutch mobile telecom subsidiary of Vodafone. The system speeds up information gathering and reporting.
Officers can instantly verify details about people, cars and leisure or commercial boats.
They also have access to related information such as prior convictions and they can file reports directly from police boats. This reduces policing costs significantly while also promising a measurable improvement in crime detection, followed by a reduction in crime. The environment will also benefit as the system will enable officers to respond more quickly to illegal dumping of waste on the waterways. The new mobile communication system may now be replicated for other police forces, law enforcement agencies, and distribution companies around the world. Similar systems can be developed in any country where there is a digital connection between GSM and ISDN networks.