Blackburn Police tackle football crime using interactive presentation technology

Following a 0-0 score-line in the FA Cup, Blackburn Rovers were set to play their neighbours and rivals, at Ewood Park, Blackburn. With the expected attendance in excess of 29,000 supporters, Blackburn Police were faced with the potential for public disorder but were determined that any disturbances between the two sets of fans would be quickly dealt with before they escalated. A highly visible police presence was deployed for the match; however, this presented Blackburn Police with a new challenge.

What was Needed?

They needed to develop a new approach to planning and find a tool that would allow commanders to identify, in real time, where officers were at all times on the day and quickly and efficiently manage and deploy them. They also wanted to be able to highlight potential trouble spots and be in a position to react accordingly, nipping any incident in the bud.

The Solution

Blackburn Police turned to a local company to provide the answer which came in the shape of the Presenta board, a simple to use interactive whiteboard provided by Promethean AV Distribution. Used in conjunction with a digital projector and PC, the Presenta board allows for maps and building plans to be viewed and manipulated by the control team on demand.

The Presenta board is supplied with Promethean’s Px interactive software which enabled officers to annotate directly onto maps and stadium plans. By using colour coding, controllers could then plot the position of their officers on the ground and the movement of fans around Blackburn before and after the game.

The Verdict

The students’ response has been positive: “The pads are fun to use, and the software is simple,” commented David Langley.

The pads are also proving a useful tool for management strategy meetings. Principal lecturer, Gareth L Smith, explains: Interactive technology is a great way of getting people to focus on what you’re trying to achieve, and to help stimulate ideas.

“When we’re preparing succession plans for instance, we start with a spreadsheet which we display, then make changes while the discussion is underway. At the end of the session, we simply convert the finished document into a PDF and email to attendees for their records.”