Vodafone to Mobilise New Zealand Police with Smart Technology

Vodafone has announced that New Zealand Police has chosen Vodafone New Zealand as its partner for mobile communications in a 10 year fully outsourced deal.

From April this year, Vodafone New Zealand will deliver customised mobile services and smartphones to NZ Police, enabling more than 6,000 frontline response, investigation and community Police officers to securely access information about suspects, vehicles and locations while on the move. Almost 4,000 of these officers who need to undertake more complex data entry as part of their job will also be provided with a tablet.

Use of the devices will mean frontline staff gain 30 minutes productivity per shift, which equates to approximately 520,000 hours each year - the equivalent of about 345 frontline officers. The expected time savings of 30 minutes per officer per shift will be reinvested into preventative policing activities.

The initial cost of the rollout is NZ$4.3 million. Over the next 10 years, New Zealand Police will spend NZ$159 million in operating expenditure to fund the technology rollout. Over the same period, the move is expected to provide New Zealand Police with productivity benefits of NZ$304.8 million. These benefits were identified by New Zealand Police during an 11-month trial involving more than 100 frontline officers in four Police districts.

New Zealand Police Commissioner Peter Marshall said: “We believe greater use of modern technology is the way of the future; it’s common sense, and will ensure officers can remain on the frontline rather than returning to stations to complete paperwork.”

Vodafone New Zealand CEO Russell Stanners said: “We are pleased to be partnering with New Zealand Police to help them realise their mobility goals. Vodafone invests over $100 million a year in our network in New Zealand and this year’s investment programme, focused on delivering speeds up to twice as fast through 42Mb/s technology, means our customers – including Police – can do what they need to do, faster with the latest technology. This will deliver an outcome that directly benefits the security and safety of New Zealand communities.”

For further information:

Vodafone Group - Media Relations

+44 (0) 1635 664444

New Zealand Police - Blair McLaren, Communications Manager

+64 4470 7201, Blair.McLaren@Police.Govt.NZ

Notes to editor:

New Zealand Police media release: http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/34258.html

About Vodafone

Vodafone is one of the world's largest mobile communications companies by revenue with approximately 403 million customers in its controlled and jointly controlled markets as of 31 December 2012. Vodafone currently has equity interests in over 30 countries across five continents and more than 50 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.vodafone.com