POLICE Scotland is introducing a new digital contact platform that will strengthen its critical 999 and non-emergency 101 services. 

The new technology will replace the current analogue telephone system and bring greater resilience to the essential services which allow the public to contact police and allow the delivery of local policing. 

The step is a significant milestone in Police Scotland's commitment to making contact with the police more accessible, relevant and responsive to the public's needs. 

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Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins said: "This significant investment in new technology for our service will further protect and strengthen our emergency 999 and non-emergency 101 services for the public.

"We have taken action to support our 999 and 101 services and they performed well over the festive period against a backdrop of high demand and significant absence.

"Our committed officers and staff continue to provide a good service and prioritise our 999 emergency calls which are answered in under 10 seconds on average.

"The new digital system will provide greater resilience for these critical services and enable us to develop further ways the public can engage, making it easy, convenient and safe to contact the police.

"Proposals to introduce additional contact methods will be subject to consultation and engagement with our communities and I would emphasise that face-to-face and telephone contact through 999 and 101 will always be available.

"We know that being visible and making personal contact is important to our communities.

"Please continue to phone 999 for emergencies, or use 101 or Contact Us on the Police Scotland website for non-emergency enquiries."

The digital technology will help by providing better quality data to support workforce planning for Police Scotland's national service centres during times of peak demand. 

It will also ensure 999 and 101 services will continue to operate when analogue services are switched off in 2025. 

The technology is a major investment in Police Scotland's contact network, with an initial capital spend of £1.2million and ongoing revenue costs of £20.7m over the course of the seven-year contract. 

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Andrew Hendry, Chief Digital Information Officer, who is leading on Police Scotland’s digital transformation said: "The needs of the public will always be at the heart of any new service design and we aim to provide modern and easy-to-use options for people who need to contact their police service.

"This enabling technology is part of our wider digital transformation and will form a foundation across Police Scotland that other parts of the organisation will utilise and build upon."