In his new role, Andy's challenge will be to mobilise the National Policing Improvement Agency's strategy to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of information systems in the police service.

As the leader of this new project, Andy will work with police forces and partners to transform police information systems by delivering common and compatible standards and technology throughout the police service.

Integrating information from hundreds of separate systems and databases will allow better identification of people, easier sharing of information and intelligence, as well as significantly reducing costs - all of which will directly impact frontline policing by releasing funds to be reinvested in other areas and ensuring that police officers get the information that they need, when they need it.

Commenting on his new role, Andy Barker said: "I am really looking forward to bringing my private and public sector experience to my new role. The ISIS programme of information communication technology convergence across the police service is an innovative approach to large scale change programmes.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to be part of delivering a step change in the use of technology by both frontline police officers and members of the public."

Notes to editors

ISIS - Background:

In February 2008 the Home Secretary commissioned the NPIA to carry out a fundamental review of police IT. The review reported back to the National Policing Board (NPB) in May 2008 with a set of recommendations for the future strategy of police information management - these are included in the policing Green Paper (Chapter 2, pages 42-45) and are the basis for the Information Systems Improvement Strategy (ISIS) programme. At the NPB in November 2008 the strategy was supported and, following the Home Secretary's decision to proceed, is now being mobilised.

ISIS is jointly-led by ACPO (Chief Constable Sean Price - Cleveland Police) and the NPIA (Richard Earland, NPIA Chief Information Officer and SRO for ISIS).  The ISIS programme board consists of representatives from the NPIA, ACPO, Association of Police Authorities, the Home Office, HMIC, Cabinet Office, the Criminal Justice System and the police IT Directors.

Andy Barker - Background:
Andy did his graduate training at General Electrical Company (GEC) and then took on a number of both commercial and technical roles in the manufacturing software industry. From there, he became Head of IT for an acquisitive packaging group completing a major IT merger programme. In 2000 he was appointed as Director of E-Sales for a European packaging group based in Vienna. Since 2003 he has been the Head of Information Systems for Kent Police, where he has rolled-out an innovative programme of IT modernisation.

Contacts
Valentine Murombe-Chivero
Senior Press Officer
Tel: 020 7147 8297 / 07827 309361