Assessing the business value of mobile terminals in a UK police context

In a climate of financial austerity, greater emphasis is placed on improving the operational effectiveness, efficiency and cost of delivery of services. This paper discusses the development of a conceptual framework to assess the business value and impact of mobile technologies in a UK police force. At present there are few structured frameworks from which police forces can assess the value of mobile technologies within a short timeframe with little effort or large budget. The conceptual framework contributes to the performance assessment in policing, providing a structured approach for police forces to understand where to concentrate their efforts, in terms of which data to collect. It utilises secondary data sources, such as global positioning-based resource and demand systems, to assess impact on time spent policing communities. The conceptual framework can be used by police forces, and similar types of organisations, seeking assessment of new technological initiatives.