John Finnie
John Finnie MSP, Justice spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (9 March) commented on the "sorry affair" of the failed national IT system for Police Scotland, after Audit Scotland said the project leaves an urgent need to deliver improvements.
Audit Scotland says the i6 project collapsed due to a loss of trust between those involved.
John Finnie MSP said:
“The now discontinued i6 project was intended to draw together about 130 computer and paper-based systems and be an intrinsic part of future policing. Audit Scotland correctly point out that the company which won this £46million project were 'strongly challenged' by Police Scotland, the Police Authority and the Scottish Government and, indeed the Parliament’s Police Committee of which I’m a member.
“Whilst the police service has come out the other end of this sorry affair with both its reputation and finances intact it still hasn’t the robust information systems it sought and clearly needs. Police Scotland’s ‘2026 draft strategy’ focuses on the future of policing. It’s self-evident that information technology will be key to that future and I endorse the Auditor General’s comment that there is 'an urgent need for a frank assessment of Police Scotland’s IT requirements.'
“Of course, any future IT procurement process will be subject to the same detailed scrutiny.