PDS launches Social Media Management & Engagement Framework

5 May 2021 02:21 PM

The Police Digital Service (PDS) has launched a Social Media Management & Engagement Framework for policing, blue light services and local authorities, paving the way for increased consistency in service delivery to the public, with potential for a central triage point for all public interaction.

The new framework gives forces control over how they meet nationally agreed standards for social media management aligned with the National Policing Digital Strategy, while providing choice, flexibility and value for money to forces. Following a rigorous procurement process, Orlo (SocialSignIn Ltd) and Softcat, in partnership with Salesforce, have been named as the successful suppliers to the framework.

Steve Norris, Public Safety Market Director for Salesforce said "Salesforce in partnership with Softcat, is delighted to have secured a position on the Police Digital Service Social Media Management and Engagement framework for Public Safety customers and local authorities. Social media is a 24/7 digital contact channel so having a platform that consolidates information and delivers a single view of the citizen will improve decision making and drive faster resolution times. We are excited to engage with all customers and understand where they are on their contact management strategy. 

PDS CEO Ian Bell said: “I am delighted that the Police Digital Service can now offer this framework, which, through national coordination, provides for a menu of options to suit local needs from content management through to the ability to facilitate social media as a 24/7 digital contact channel, if desired.

“Unlike many other organisations, policing has specific requirements to enable the reporting and recording of crimes and incidents made via social media in the same manner, and to the same standard, as we do with 999 or 101 services. The explosion of social media, and the plethora of information now available to the police, provides both challenge and huge opportunity – this information is incredibly powerful if managed well.

“The successful suppliers on the framework were able to demonstrate an effective approach to supporting this, ensuring the public have choice on which channels to use to interact with their local force.”

Other benefits of the framework include:

The framework supports the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Lead for Social Media and Digital Engagement, Surrey Police Chief Constable (CC) Gavin Stephens, who has worked with force colleagues in contact services, corporate communications and local policing forces to create and develop a Target Operation Model (TOM) for the integrated use of social media across forces.

CC Stephens, said: “To have a procurement framework available for all of UK policing is a huge achievement and the result of years of hard work across the portfolio and through the valued support of policing’s communications teams.

“More so now than ever we need to efficiently and effectively engage online which this framework allows us to do. Importantly, it has been built by our needs and saves forces time and money.

“The new approach to online services and social media has been implemented by a number of forces already. I hope that having this new opportunity makes it an even more attractive offer for those considering it as their next step.”

The development and delivery of this framework is the result of a coordinated national approach aimed at enabling local implementation aligned with three of the National Policing Digital Strategy’s five ambitions: