Solving crimes is already a high tech business with complex identification systems and data records. I.T capabilities in this area have increased dramatically over the last few years to handle the complex nature of what is required to catch the modern day criminal. However despite the dramatic increase in the number of CCTV cameras and sophisticated radio communication, Police Forces across the world suffer from a similar compliant. Crimes being committed in one area and recorded on one police database are inaccessible to other forces. When data is available between crime solving agencies there is often a time lapse between data input and availability, which potentially could cost the case.
In order to overcome this situation and improve security there is a critical need for those solving crime to have access to real time collaboration between their I.T systems. This is a huge task due to the fact police work is very knowledge intensive and is currently arranged over a number of different units. These inputs work independently from one another and often bear very limited relation to one another in terms of layout and form. Different operating platforms and system programs make the inter change of data complex and difficult to unify. But bringing together these units as the data is actually being inputted, is a challenge that one group of researchers believes is within reach. They argue that they have created a new workflow centric framework which is able to easily and flawlessly integrate the separate units which currently exist and enable enhanced information retrieval and workflow management. This framework is a collaborative workflow management framework which supports real time collaboration processes hosted by a virtual organisation.
Collaborative workflow management systems have been utilised successfully in a number of different fields and organisations but this foray into the world of crime solving will be challenging the way these systems work. Determining how best to utilise this technology so that it meets the needs of all the stakeholders involved will continue to prove a difficult challenge. However if the system is successful this collaborative workflow management framework could aid the reduction of crime, and have a real impact on people’s everyday lives.
