Community Messaging System

Surrey and Sussex Commissioners require a joint externally hosted community messaging service that will broadcast police generated messages via email, text, and voice message direct to members of the public and local businesses.

Both forces currently use separate community messaging systems that have approximately 13,000 registered users in Surrey and 40,000 registered users in Sussex. The new system will have the ability to import existing data from our current systems as well as increasing the number of registered users to enable bespoke messages to be sent from a single portal to specific geographical and demographic groups within both counties. Whilst the primary method of contact will be via e-mail, the system should provide the capability for messages to be sent via SMS and phone. The current Sussex system is used to manage Neighbourhood Watch Scheme membership and this remains a key requirement for a joint system. In addition, with the rollout of Android mobile devices to Neighbourhood Policing in both forces, and mobile access to the Surrey and Sussex websites accounting for 75% of all traffic, the community messaging system must support responsive design principles.