First we wrote TROP - Training Records of Police Officers - which was primarily for recording the training and authorisations of Firearms Officers. Then a force asked us to develop this further for search teams, and so we created a new application called STOR - Search Team Officers Records. This goes further than TROP, in that STOR also allows recording of the details of each search undertaken, with date, location, search officers involved, dog and handler used, search equipment used. It also records the details of property recovered, and if, required, the value of such property. This will allow reporting of the total values of types of property recovered in a period.
The new additions to version 3.0 of STOR, published at the end of October 2000, include a facility to record details of all Instructing an officer has done, and also inoculations they have received, and renewal dates. A code system has been introduced for types of Authorisations, and contact lists can be produced for selected types of authorisation.
Managing Major Searches
Missing persons
Defensive searches with Seals Register
House to House enquiries
Evidence gathering
Major accident site management
This, in turn, led to requests for data logging for Major Searches, and so, working with Sgt Chris Jones of Cheshire Police, we have developed an add-on module for use by Search Managers. This allows the entry of details of all search teams allocated to an operation, whether they be police, civilian, armed forces, mountain rescue, helicopter, underwater teams, dogs, etc. It also allows for a search to be divided over a number of areas. A key part of the Major Searches module is the screen where the manager handles the allocation of teams to areas, and the immediate printing off of tasking sheets. Data is also recorded about the missing person to comply with the PNC input form.
As teams complete the searches of their areas, so the resulting data can be logged, with full records for tracing items that will be treated as evidence. Because the allocation of teams to areas has been recorded it is possible to assign different teams to follow-up searches, and there is also scope to break an area down for a number of further specialist searches.
The Module includes a full log of finds, a seals register and a house to house enquiries log.
New additions in version 3.0 include a receipt system for handing over found items, and the data for the National Body Label can now be recorded. Search Managers' contact data is now held, and the appropriate information can now be imported when setting up a new operation. Team sheets can be printed for Search Teams.
'Objectives' can be created within the Operation, and then applied to Tasks. Task lists can be printed by a selected Objective, and Tasks for a selected Area. A visual Priority marker can be applied to each Task. Lists of Tasks that have not yet been allocated to a Team can be printed, as can lists of incomplete Tasks. A database of Search Assets (whether in Force or out of Force) has been added, with contact information.
Our e-mail address is police@cleaford.co.uk
CLEAFORD
SERVICES LIMITED
46 Hazell Road
Farnham
Surrey GU9 7BP
England
Phone : 0845 124 9402 (local rate in UK)
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