PDS launches Social Media Management & Engagement Framework

The Police Digital Service (PDS) has launched a Social Media Management & Engagement Framework for policing, blue light services and local authorities, paving the way for increased consistency in service delivery to the public, with potential for a central triage point for all public interaction.

The new framework gives forces control over how they meet nationally agreed standards for social media management aligned with the National Policing Digital Strategy, while providing choice, flexibility and value for money to forces. Following a rigorous procurement process, Orlo (SocialSignIn Ltd) and Softcat, in partnership with Salesforce, have been named as the successful suppliers to the framework.

Steve Norris, Public Safety Market Director for Salesforce said "Salesforce in partnership with Softcat, is delighted to have secured a position on the Police Digital Service Social Media Management and Engagement framework for Public Safety customers and local authorities. Social media is a 24/7 digital contact channel so having a platform that consolidates information and delivers a single view of the citizen will improve decision making and drive faster resolution times. We are excited to engage with all customers and understand where they are on their contact management strategy. 

PDS CEO Ian Bell said: “I am delighted that the Police Digital Service can now offer this framework, which, through national coordination, provides for a menu of options to suit local needs from content management through to the ability to facilitate social media as a 24/7 digital contact channel, if desired.

“Unlike many other organisations, policing has specific requirements to enable the reporting and recording of crimes and incidents made via social media in the same manner, and to the same standard, as we do with 999 or 101 services. The explosion of social media, and the plethora of information now available to the police, provides both challenge and huge opportunity – this information is incredibly powerful if managed well.

“The successful suppliers on the framework were able to demonstrate an effective approach to supporting this, ensuring the public have choice on which channels to use to interact with their local force.”

Other benefits of the framework include:

  • Making it easier for forces to listen and respond to communities, helping build and maintain trust in local policing tackling the things that matter most to the public;
  • Meeting criminal justice standards with auditing capabilities which can be exported in secure, tamper-proof evidence reports;
  • Availability through direct award or mini competition to all blue light services, police and crime commissioners’ offices and Local Authorities;
  • Accessibility for frontline officers from a mobile app via force-issued mobile phone or tablet;
  • The ability to access basic data insights on external users including influence, key words, type of content, demographic information and location;
  • The ability to pause all scheduled content in the event of managing a critical incident;
  • The facility to host and maintain a content management library, accessible to everyone in the organisation.

The framework supports the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Lead for Social Media and Digital Engagement, Surrey Police Chief Constable (CC) Gavin Stephens, who has worked with force colleagues in contact services, corporate communications and local policing forces to create and develop a Target Operation Model (TOM) for the integrated use of social media across forces.

CC Stephens, said: “To have a procurement framework available for all of UK policing is a huge achievement and the result of years of hard work across the portfolio and through the valued support of policing’s communications teams.

“More so now than ever we need to efficiently and effectively engage online which this framework allows us to do. Importantly, it has been built by our needs and saves forces time and money.

“The new approach to online services and social media has been implemented by a number of forces already. I hope that having this new opportunity makes it an even more attractive offer for those considering it as their next step.”

The development and delivery of this framework is the result of a coordinated national approach aimed at enabling local implementation aligned with three of the National Policing Digital Strategy’s five ambitions:

  • Supporting provision of more choice in how the public engages with the police using the channels, media and devices that are most relevant to them;
  • Equipping our people with the right knowledge, skills and tools to deal with increasingly complex crimes; and
  • Working to enable technologies to become more easily sourced, scaled and made available by strengthening relationships to allows for public safety responsibilities to be appropriately shared.
Georgie Morgan

Georgie Morgan

Head of Justice and Emergency Services, techUK

Georgie joined techUK as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager in March 2020, then becoming Head of Programme in January 2022.

Georgie leads techUK's engagement and activity across our blue light and criminal justice services, engaging with industry and stakeholders to unlock innovation, problem solve, future gaze and highlight the vital role technology plays in the delivery of critical public safety and justice services. The JES programme represents suppliers by creating a voice for those who are selling or looking to break into and navigate the blue light and criminal justice markets.

Prior to joining techUK, Georgie spent 4 and a half years managing a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) in Westminster. She worked closely with the Metropolitan Police and London borough councils to prevent and reduce the impact of crime on the business community. Her work ranged from the impact of low-level street crime and anti-social behaviour on the borough, to critical incidents and violent crime.

Email:
[email protected]
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-henley/

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Ella Gago-Brookes

Team Assistant, Markets, techUK

Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.  

Before joining the team, she was working at the Magistrates' Courts in legal administration and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2022.  Ella attained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics, and a master's degree in International Relations and Security Studies, with a particular interest in studying asylum rights and gendered violence.  

In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, watching true crime documentaries, travelling, and making her best attempts to become a better cook.  

Email:
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Cinzia Miatto

Cinzia Miatto

Programme Manager - Justice & Emergency Services, techUK

Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.

The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.

Prior to join techUK, Cinzia held positions within the third and public sectors, managing international and multi-disciplinary projects and funding initiatives. Cinzia has a double MA degree in European Studies from the University of Göttingen (Germany) and the University of Udine (Italy), with a focus on politics and international relations.

Email:
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Georgina Maratheftis

Georgina Maratheftis

Associate Director, Local Public Services, techUK

Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services

Georgina works with suppliers that are active or looking to break into the market as well as with local public services to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local public services and supplier community to horizon scan and explore how the technologies of today and tomorrow can help solve some of the most pressing problems our communities face and improve outcomes for our people and places.

Prior to techUK, Georgina worked for a public policy events company where she managed the policy briefing division and was responsible for generating new ideas for events that would add value to the public sector. Georgina worked across a number of portfolios from education, criminal justice, and health but had a particular interest in public sector transformation and technology. Georgina also led on developing relationships across central and local government.

If you’d like to learn more about techUK, or want to get involved, get in touch.

Email:
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Phone:
020 7331 2029
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@GeorginaMarath
Website:
www.techuk.org/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgina-maratheftis-0a002a102/

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Raya Tsolova

Programme Manager, National Security, techUK

Raya Tsolova is the Programme Manager for National Security at techUK. 

Raya is responsible for all National Security related activities across techUK, specifically in the established programmes of Defence, Cyber Security and Justice & Emergency Services. Raya will leverage relationships with existing stakeholders across the three programmes, and will build new relationships between techUK and key stakeholders who are of interest to member companies. 

Prior to joining techUK, Raya worked in Business Development for an expert network firm within the institutional investment space. Before this Raya spent a year in industry working for a tech start-up in London as part of their Growth team which included the formation and development of a 'Let's Talk Tech' podcast and involvement in London Tech Week. 

Raya has a degree in Politics and International Relations (Bsc Hons) from the University of Bath where she focused primarily on national security and counter-terrorism policies, centreing research on female-led terrorism and specific approaches to justice there. 

Outside of work, Raya's interests include baking, spin classes and true-crime Netflix shows! 

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
07712630603

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