Press release – Police Digital Service (PDS) service supports thousands of vulnerable lives
A Police Digital Service (PDS) service has supported almost 29,000 vulnerable individuals with technology that safeguards the lives of UK’s most at risk individuals.
The service is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week and supports vulnerable people, including people in danger of domestic abuse, stalking and harassment.
In the past year, the service has been used by three new forces, bringing the total number of forces to 36 across the UK and has added 43 languages to the service, increasing its use and helping a wider range of people.
The PDS service has improved police response across the UK, leading to greater consistency, efficiency, and ultimately, reassurance for victims.
This year has seen significant achievements:
- Expanded coverage: Three new police forces have taken the service for their communities with seven more in various stages of implementation, bringing the total to 36 forces across the UK.
- Enhanced training: 366 training sessions delivered by the service team to safeguarding leads and police staff involved in protecting vulnerable individuals.
- Multilingual support: The service is now available in 43 languages, allowing forces to reach wider into diverse communities and protect even more vulnerable people.
- Long-term stability: A Memorandum of Trade Agreement negotiated by PDS to secure funding and ensure the service’s sustainability for the future.
Users of the service have shared that it has allowed them to feel “reassured”, “re-gain control of their lives” and “help with feeling safe”.
Ian Bell, CEO at PDS said: “I am both proud and humbled that our service has had such a positive impact on the wellbeing of victims of crime across the UK and offers reassurance to thousands of vulnerable individuals. With the Home Office’s support and 36 police forces using the service, we are in a strong position to safeguard and improve the lives of many more vulnerable people across the UK.”
Over the coming year, PDS will continue to expand the service’s adoption among police forces and grow its functionalities to protect even more vulnerable individuals.
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Notes to editor:
Testimonials from people using the service:
- “I had this installed and it was really good. very discrete and did help me with feeling safe.”
- “I’m finding the service really reassuring – I’ve managed to go out a few times over the weekend which was nice. Many thanks.”
About the Police Digital Service (PDS):
The Police Digital Service (PDS) is the UK organisation responsible for coordinating, developing, delivering, and managing digital services and solutions that enable UK policing to safely harness technology to improve public safety. Funded by policing and the Home Office, PDS works with law enforcement organisations, private industry, charities, public bodies, and government to deliver digital services and solutions with policing, for policing.
