Computer trouble ‘will not affect police work’
GUERNSEY Police has declined to give details of how computer problems at its headquarters are affecting day-to-day operations, although it has given an assurance that the issues are not having any effect on public safety.
Its computers are having work carried out this month to correct problems that arose following upgrades to the Bailiwick Law Enforcement system.
The HQ’s main computer server is being rebuilt and during that time there will be a limit to the number of computers that can access it at the same time, said police. The timeline of the work has been scheduled to have minimal impact.
Core computer systems will be available during the rebuild, and will be staffed 24 hours a day for the duration.
While stressing that the problems will not affect public safety, exactly what effect they would have on those who work at police headquarters is unknown. ‘Clearly, it would be inappropriate to disclose precise details of systems affected,’ said deputy chief of police Nigel Taylor.
The force informed islanders of the issues via its Facebook page, which features a video of Mr Taylor explaining the situation and giving reassurances.
He said the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre and 999 calls were not affected and the States Information Systems and Services (ISS) was treating the issues as top priority.
The dates of the work will not be made public ‘for security reasons’, he said.
‘Our ability to investigate crime and respond to calls for service has not and will not be affected,’ said Mr Taylor.
‘The Joint Emergency Services Control Centre is on a separate command and control system and is still operational. I want to emphasise these points – if you call 999 and need the police, your call will be answered and our officers will be dispatched, as per usual.
‘Public safety has not been compromised. We are working alongside ISS to restore system to normal performance.
States of Guernsey chief information officer Colin Vaudin said: ‘We are devoting considerable resources to restoring the systems to an acceptable level of performance. From everything we have seen and the data we have reviewed, there is no evidence this is the result of any external threat.’
Home Affairs president Mary Lowe said she had been fully briefed on the issues and received an assurance from ISS that all possible resources were being dedicated to resolving the issues.
‘I have spoken directly with the head of law enforcement, who has fully outlined the situation and assures me frontline policing remains functional,’ she said.
Law Enforcement’s IT system was described as being among the worst ever seen by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in its critical review last year, and at the same time as the upgrades work will be done to address issues identified by HMIC.
