a tailored package created to support you
Websites and Branding Independent Custody Visitor App
your tailored package
Police Commissioner Solutions (PCS) deliver a tailored package to support the offices of the Police & Crime Commissioner. We provide innovative websites and branding to improve your relationship and communications with the general public, as well as the web-based Independent Custody Visitor app to streamline your administrative processes.
Websites and Branding Our websites are not only appealing and easy-to-use, but can also be fully managed and maintained internally with an integrated content management system.
Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) App Record details and information of detainees in custody suites into one centralised and paperless location. Streamline custody visits, improve staff management and generate extensive and detailed data reports.
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websites and branding • independent custody visitors app
about us
Our dedicated team is comprised of account executives, web developers and user eperience (UX) testers to ensure that all services run smoothly, are fully optimised for OPCC use and to make sure you receive full customer support when you need it. Our team also provide training on our websites and software to make sure you get the best from our services – we’ll even travel to you to save you the hassle. Police Comissioner Solutions (PCS) is part of Formation Media, a UX driven digital marketing and web design agency based in Warwick. PCS came about when we realised that there was a huge need for websites and software that fitted with the working processes of OPCCs throughout the UK. Since then, we’ve worked with many different OPCCs, providing bespoke software, websites, and training services.
Jess Bailey-Womack
Jason Millis
Marketing Account Executive
Software Developer
Lisa Voss
Simon Newman
Anthony Quigley
Digital Journalist
Website Developer
UX Tester
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websites and branding
At PCS we understand that having a strong, well designed and properly developed website can make a huge impact on users. From more efficient work processes to improved communications and relationships, a good website really can make a difference. With this in mind, PCS use our in-house design and development team to produce bespoke websites exactly suited to the needs of OPPCs. Our websites are designed with you and your needs in mind. Every website is different to ensure we’re getting it right for you and meeting your work standards. Having a website as a valuable tool for communication is more important than ever in the digital era. We also offer website hosting on our secure servers, so you never have to worry about cyber security issues. We are Cyber Essentials certified and are currently working towards ISO 9001 and ISO 27001.
Content Builder An extensive and tailor-made content builder makes producing and editing additional webpages a painless process.
Accessibility Police Commissioner Solutions websites conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 and are accessible to all users.
Feedback PCS are happy to work alongside OPPC’s to create a website that not only meets the needs of its users, but are also intuitive to manage.
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websites and branding • independent custody visitors app
ICV app
The Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) App has been one of PCS’s greatest successes. The app was born when OPPCs notified us of the issues they were experiencing with their current paper-based ICV visits and recording system - being time-consuming and inefficient. PCS created the ICV app to solve these problems. The web app records details and information of detainees held in custody suites, including any requests made by the detainee, any issues with the cell, along with any other notes and procedures to be followed during an ICV visit. Each user has their own dedicated login enabling them to store their visits for viewing later. The automated system allows information gathered to be sent for sign off to the appropriate chains of authority with no extra work – it’s simply emailed across on a secure network when a WiFi connection is established. The web app operates on a simple user interface making it highly accessible and easy to retrieve data. In addition, the web app provides a report generating system to help produce detailed reports on information gathered by all ICVs, which can be viewed and used by an administrator.
Custody Visits and Rota Management
Extensive and Instant Data Reporting
User Permissions and Accessibility Administration
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case study: website
What was the problem with their website? Warwickshire OPCC’s website had become outdated, slow, and no longer fit for purpose as a source of information for the public. Transparency and accessibility features were lacking, and the user experience was poor and heavily defined by large blocks of text, with minimal interactive features. The website was not built on a user-accessible platform, making it difficult for the Police and Crime Commissioner to add updates and keep the local community informed of developments, a vital part of maintaining public transparency in the office.
Keeping it local As a business based in Warwickshire, we were honoured to be approached by the Warwickshire Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) to assist with a new website build. Previously we had built a successful website for Cumbria OPCC, and due to the standard of work produced, Warwickshire decided to approach us for a similar project.
What did we do? Drawing on our prior experience with the website build for Cumbria and other public-sector projects, we were able to deliver a website that was able to communicate efficiently, meet the needs of the OPCC, and improve user experience. The new website was designed and built on the user-friendly WordPress platform, which allows the OPCC to upload
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websites and branding • independent custody visitors app
content to the website and update it in a much easier and more timely manner. The new platform allowed the uploading of photos, videos, events, blog posts, and galleries; a far broader range of media than the old site could accommodate. As the site is primarily a bank of information for the public to view, it was crucial that the site was formatted in a manner that was accessible to all. To this end, we enabled varying text size options to aid with visual impairment and added multiple language options to bridge any barriers. Categories are clearly laid out and text is in an easy to read format that doesn’t clutter the design. Site navigation is greatly improved when compared to the old website and consequently delivers better clarity for users across the board.
What was the result? The final product is a clean, accessible, user-friendly website that is fit for the purposes of the OPCC. Information is visible and digestible, and the Commissioner can perform their own uploads easily without the need for additional technical support. Improved site navigation means website visitors can now find what they are looking for in fewer clicks, as well as improving the browsing experience. The new website helps fulfil one of the OPCC remits, which is to improve public communications. Formation are delighted to have been able to play such an important role in delivering this.
Please see page 10 for testimonials regarding our work with Warwickshire PCC. If you are interested in a new website, please call us on 01926 298 999, or visit pcs-digital.co.uk to discuss requirements.
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case study: ICV app
The Avon and Somerset Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), alongside the elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), ensures the smooth running of the Avon & Somerset constabulary. After becoming a recognised brand within the OPCC community, we were approached by Avon and Somerset with the task of digitising their Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) process. The ICV visitation process until this point had been paper dependent – visitations would be documented on paper, passed onto the relevant managers for signing off and later translated into a spreadsheet by a member of the administration team. This was an overall time-consuming, tedious process. The OPCC needed a digital solution to help combat their paper dependent problems, to reduce human error and save time and costs. Having already developed this app for the Warwickshire region, the implementation into Avon & Somerset was natural and organic. Created, developed and tested over several months by our team of software developers, the app operates on a simple user interface – easy to navigate and able to operate on both tablet and mobile devices. The result was as desired, with Avon and Somerset OPCC extremely happy with the software., enabling the department to streamline their process, saving time from start to finish whilst also creating a paperless process.
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websites and branding • independent custody visitors app
Once introduced, Police Commissioner Solutions (PCS) created various training tools to help users of the web app, including a booklet and video demo alongside face-to-face training sessions to make sure both OPCC and ICVs were confident with the technology, ensuring a smooth transaction from paper to screen. Anna Hill, Avon and Somerset’s Custody Visiting and VCSE Officer has found the project extremely successful:
‘The team at Formation have worked closely with us throughout the whole journey, from initial discussions to the implementation of the app. Moving away from a paper-based recording system for some of our ICVs was slightly daunting. However, once the ICV’s gained experience through the demo and hands-on training, their concerns were put to one side. Not only is the app user-friendly and accurate for reporting visits, it will also help me hugely in the collating and analysis of data.
- Anna Hill Avon and Somerset’s Custody Visiting and VCSE Officer
Since the successful introduction to Avon and Somerset OPCC, we have rolled out our ICV web app at various stages to numerous other constabularies, including Northamptonshire and Derbyshire OPCC.
If you are interested in the ICV app to streamline your processes for your constabulary, please call us on 01926 298 999, or visit pcs-digital.co.uk to discuss requirements or to arrange a no-obligation demonstration.
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testimonials
We came to Formation to develop our website from scratch as they seemed to be the best fit. We now have a brand new website with a bespoke system for gathering information that has cut down on our workload significantly. We’re really pleased with the website - it does exactly what we want and we find it very easy-to-use. We’ve had feedback from partners and the public and everybody loves the new website! I found it really easy to work with everyone at Formation - the whole process was very painless. This is the first IT project I’ve worked on that has actually launched on time and within budget!
- Caroline Ryder Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner
Our original website has served us well for several years but we wanted to give it a refresh to put the work being undertaken to deliver the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan much more at the forefront. Formation were really good to work with and responsive to our suggestions and we’re very pleased with the final results. The new design makes it much easier to find information on the site and is simpler for us to keep updated, which were the key objectives when we looked at what we could to do improve our existing site. It will really help us to showcase the work of the Commissioner to the public in a more dynamic way.
- Neil Tipton Head of Media and Communications Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner
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websites and branding • independent custody visitors app
training
Alognside the purchase of our Independent Custody Visitor App, users often need training transitioning from paper-based admin to our digital system that streamlines the process. Our account managers operate half-day training sessions for volunteers throughout the country. Beginning with an introduction into both PCS and the app, we run through the functions of the software before setting attendees tasks to complete independently, to ensure everyone left feeling confident with the technology. We appreciate that the Independent Custody Visitor process regularly relies on volunteers to carry out custody suite visits and that these volunteers come from a variety of professional backgrounds and have varied levels of technical expertise. A comprehensive training session is included as part of the PCS ICV app package, to ensure every individual involved in the process is confident with using the software. We also provide a detailed user guide for operators reference as standard. Part of our success stems from our continual eagerness to develop and grow – we continuously encourage communication throughout the whole development process from both OPCC departments and volunteers. Any recommendations are gladly received and passed back to our development team for scoping to potentially implement into future versions of the app.
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Websites and Branding
Independent Custody Visitor App
Content Builder
Custody Visits and Rota Management
An extensive and tailor-made content
Submit detailed custody visits, ready for
builder makes producing and editing
admin approval and keep track of the
additional webpages a painless
entire process. Visit Rotas and information
process.
become easy to view and maintain.
Accessibility
Extensive and Instant Data Reporting
Police Commissioner Solutions
Generate detailed reports instantly, refined by any and all elements of detainees and
websites conform to Web Content
visits, including location, cell number,
Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 and are
custody type and more.
accessible to all users.
User Permissions and Accessibility
Feedback
Administration
PCS are happy to work alongside
Have complete control of user permissions
OPPC’s to create a website that not only meets the needs of its users, but are also intuitive to manage.
Monitor the flow of information through the right people at the right time.
100% UK based website development
WINNER
pcs-digital.co.uk
and accessibility throughout the app.
01926 298 999
info@pcs-digital.co.uk
PCS Digital, c/o Formation Media Ltd, Unit 2, St. George’s House, Cape Road, Warwick, CV34 5DJ