HOLMES 2 System Gets New Upgrade
London, March 15, 2007 - Unisys Corporation, the worldwide technology services and solutions company, and The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), have announced that Police forces across the UK will see improvements to the way vital information is handled in major crime investigations, as a result of the latest upgrade of the HOLMES 2 computer system.
The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) commissioned Unisys to deliver the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System 2 (HOLMES 2) Version 11 upgrade. The Version 11 upgrade incorporates a new search tool using the latest technologies, giving the police service enhanced search and compatibility capabilities across databases.
HOLMES 2 Version 11 features enhanced functionality, adaptability and interoperability with other police information resources and utilises architecture and a three-tier framework to promote code reusability. The additions build on the system's capabilities, which have proved popular with the police as they mirror how a physical incident room or casualty bureau operates, ensuring a logical and consistent information flow. This provides the ability to link different investigations together and also to connect enquiries between forces.
PITO Director of Operational Services John Neil said, "HOLMES 2 helps police forces manage the large amount of information generated by major crime investigations. When faced with the task of sifting through information sent in by the public or gathered by the enquiry teams, the senior investigating officers can rely on HOLMES 2 to help."
"HOLMES 2 is key to organising evidence, identifying cross-references and in helping to make those critical links between different pieces of information that can lead to a breakthrough in the case. With this latest upgrade, incident rooms across the country can continue to rely on HOLMES 2 to meet the unique information management needs and operational demands of major crime investigations."
"Since its launch in 1999, HOLMES 2 has proven to be a crucial tool for the UK's police forces in providing best in class access to information and cross-referencing" said Holli Ploog, Unisys Vice President of Global Public Sector UK. "We consider HOLMES 2 to be a key enabling technology in aiding police to resolve murders more quickly, and with maximum flexibility, without compromising security."
Unisys, in delivering the capabilities required for Version 11, incorporated six new frameworks, as well as web enablement capability using SOA architecture which allows specific modules to be added and removed in response to the needs of the force.
Notes to Editors
In 1996 Unisys won the contract to develop the HOLMES application as a solution to bring consistency to the management of enquiries and procedures across police forces. The development of HOLMES 2 by Unisys represented a breakthrough concept in collective ownership and minimisation of risk for the government. Holmes 2 was implemented by early adopters in 1999. The first murder conviction, through the use of HOLMES 2, was achieved within the first year of operation. HOLMES 2 is used in approximately 50 per cent of murder investigations.
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For further information, please contact:-
Unisys Nick Parker / Adam Barber, Financial Dynamics, +44 207 831 3113
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