Recent communities include:

• ISIS, IMPACT, PND, PNC
• Forensics
• Mobile Information
• Olympics
• Uniform Operational Support

POLKA can be accessed from the police national network within the Criminal Justice Framework.

What is POLKA?

As an online collaboration area POLKA can provide fast problem solving and access to a vast range of professional expertise, reducing costs and avoiding duplication of effort.

Groups of users, working in communities, can have access and contribute to the development of documents, projects and consultations using a range of technologies such as blogs, wikis, discussion forums, document libraries and shared calendars.

POLKA is protectively marked up to the level of 'RESTRICTED' and appropriate security measures are in place to reflect this. The system has been accredited and is hosted by the NPIA in a secure environment.

POLKA is currently available to any user with a PNN email address and who can connect to the CJX/PNN, and a number of organisations on the GSi (Government Secure intranet) network. Access to POLKA was opened up to GSi users in September 2011 and is being rolled out to GSi organisations on a phased basis, to ensure continuity of service and support.

Users on the PNN can sign up online immediately by completing the registration form on the POLKA Home Page.

Users on the GSi network should visit the POLKA GSi information page for more details and the process for requesting access.

Why should I get involved?

POLKA uses social media technology to encourage and enable sharing across a group of individuals who maintain a common, professional interest. It can open up far reaching channels of communication that extend beyond office boundaries with the added protection offered by a secure environment.

If you find current levels of email unrealistic to sustain, documentation difficult to share and opportunities for informed discussion limited from both financial and geographic reasons then POLKA  can offer you a solution.

How do I get involved?

If you are on a PNN network login to POLKA today and seek out the Learning to POLKA Community who can help to get you started, answer your questions and provide an opportunity for you to try things out. You will find a range of guidance to help you become familiar with the different tools and many communities who are already on the POLKA map eager to welcome new members.