Case Studies

DPP Digital Case File

Customer: Police Digital Service

CLIENT BRIEF

Prior to Sarax obtaining funding for the Digital Policing Portfolio (DPP), projects such as Digital Case File (DCF) had operated for many years within policing on a small and decentralised scale with limited successes. As a digitisation initiative in DPP Sarax were commissioned to deliver the overarching DCF programme management.

DCF is a national criminal justice project to digitalise the compilation of evidence files for criminal trials, involving multiple criminal justice stakeholders, technical platforms, and processes. The key aims of the project were to improve case file quality, increase efficiency, improve disclosure compliance, and obtain higher user satisfaction.

WHAT WE DID

Having secured the required Home Office funding for DCF, Sarax provided a comprehensive whole programme management service, which continued when DPP became incorporated as part of the Police ICT Company, and subsequently now as part of the Police Digital Service. This includes:

• Programme Plan Management and Planning Support
• Reporting
• RAIDD Management
• Assurance and Change Control
• Strategic Support
• Development and Testing Monitoring and Support
• Stakeholder Engagement and Support
• Budget Management and Finance
• Implementation Support
• Governance Support.

HOW WE DID IT

The development of a defined and lean operating model by Sarax became a core part of the continuing success of the project. By establishing baseline best practice and standards, Sarax was able to implement a robust delivery framework, which included mapping and understanding the technical and process requirements of multiple systems and contractors, their priorities, interdependencies, and risks. Sarax has seamlessly transitioned the project several times through various corporate entities from Digital First to the current Police Digital Service, through effective programme management leadership support.

THE WORKS

Sarax’s programme management methodology of working on the client side of delivery means multiple stakeholders and complex third-party technical dependencies are effectively managed to achieve progress and stage successes.

The work involves 5 suppliers and over 200 stakeholders including all 44 police forces in England and Wales, the Home Office, CJS Common Platform Programme, Crown Prosecution Service, Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunal Service, and the Judiciary.

Sarax has remained a constant presence and key partner in the continuing successful delivery of DCF on behalf of the Home Office, with National roll-out due to be completed in 2025.

TOP 5 BENEFITS

• Successful programme management of a complex multi-year national project across a complex criminal justice landscape
• Securing £4m funding for DCF over the past 2 years as a stand-alone project
• Delivery of on time and on budget outcomes
• Facilitation of a multi-agency process over 3+ years to produce the national DCF specifications
• Sustained delivery via a lean but robust operating model tailored for DCF.

VALUE ADD

• Detailed and sustained understanding of the programme from inception
• Strong working relationships with all stakeholders, including other contractors
• Acknowledged transparency and integrity across all areas of programme management
• Client-side operating model and delivery
• Diverse and innovative approach to delivery.

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