The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in Staffordshire has appointed Boeing as strategic IT partner for Staffordshire Police. The £110m contract that will cover IT running costs and new projects.

According to Staffordshire police and crime commissioner Matthew Ellis, Boeing will help Staffordshire transform its IT capabilities and provide greater opportunities to work more effectively with partner organisations and local communities, as well as greater capability in fighting crime.

Ellis said the deal would “dramatically improve the capability and capacity of Staffordshire Police and save money compared to the current annual running costs for IT for the Police.”

The deal will also lead to the creation of a policing IT centre of excellence, bringing together IT specialists and approaches in a virtual centre that also will be accessible to forces outside of Staffordshire.

Ellis added that Boeing won the contract against 52 other firms and would help make the police force “the most technologically advanced local police service in the country”.

“Policing in Staffordshire, and across the country, has fallen short of providing their officers with the right technology to do the job. As crime becomes more complex, with borders for criminals swept aside because of the internet and social media, it is essential that we ensure police have the right technology to tackle crime locally and wider,” he said.

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Staffordshire Police Chief Constable Jane Sawyers said that outdated technology, alongside a lack of real-time information, had hampered officers.

“During the last couple of years we’ve worked closely with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in Staffordshire and have seen progress to make sure police can stay out and about longer with the information they need and for us to know where our resources are in real-time,” she said.

“Technology will also allow people easier access to their police officers. People will have a better experience when they interact with Staffordshire Police as officers will have access to more information wherever they need it, whilst in communities.”