Police Scotland to ditch £60m IT project

Police Scotland is to ditch a contract for a £60 million IT system which has been plagued by glitches.

The “i6” project, meant to unify over 100 current systems belonging to the eight legacy forces, was supposed to go live in one division in December and be rolled out across Scotland this year.

But contractor Accenture has identified various problems while testing the system.

Now, in a written update on the project given to Holyrood’s policing sub-committee, the single force said it has not yet found a “mutually agreeable way forward” and is looking at contingency options.

Labour’s justice spokesman, Graeme Pearson MSP, said the police had discussed with Accenture the possibility of the contractor walking away from the project for a fee.

He said: “My understanding is that there are ongoing moves to enable Accenture to pay a fee to enable them to walk away from this contract because it’s undeliverable.

“I don’t think the fee will cover the sorts of expenses that have been suffered by the public purse. Those in the various organisations involved are as shocked and as appalled as I am with the incompetence this thing has been handled with.”

Deputy chief constable Neil Richardson said: “Police Scotland and Accenture have agreed to re-scope the delivery of i6 which will progress implementation of the national solution and secure significant benefits for policing.

“Due diligence will now be carried out to finalise a revised timetable and build process. I am clearly disappointed i6 will not be delivered to the timescales originally agreed.

“Our focus is on realising those long-term benefits and working with Accenture to overcome any short-term challenges. i6 will give officers and staff across the country the real-time ability to work in the most effective and efficient way possible.”