Unity

Project Information

Unity

Grant agreement ID: 653729

DOI

10.3030/653729

Project closed

EC signature date 28 April 2015

Start date 1 May 2015

End date 30 April 2018

Funded under

• Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens

Total cost

€ 4 538 120,00

EU contribution

€ 4 330 900,00

Coordinated by

POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR WEST YORKSHIRE
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Unity (Unity)

Reporting period: 2016-05-01 to 2018-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The fundamental vision and end-user focus of Unity was to strengthen the connection between the police and the communities they serve;
To capture best practices for cooperation between police and citizens. CP will be analysed as a system of facilitating information-sharing and trust- building and included research into the virtual dimensions of CP.
To develop a communications technology that facilitates, strengthens and accelerates the communication between citizens and police. The development of a communication system through technology that has a strong user-centered approach.
To design, develop and deliver training for LEAs and awareness raising activities about CP, all activities will take into account the needs of diverse communities and protected characteristics.
In recognising the need to develop a flexible, adaptable and scalable CP model, Unity’s vision was to meet the needs of diverse communities by providing a method for connecting concepts of CP.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP 1 was the project management and coordination;
D.1 Project Management Plan
D1.2 Periodic Reporting
D1.3 Overall project report
D1.4 Quality Management Plan.
D1.5 – Establishment of the sub committees.
International Advisory Board
Scientific & Technical Steering Committee
Security / Ethics and Confidentiality Committee
Exploitation Committee (in response to Partners and Commissions recommendations)
Work Package 2: Ethical, Legal and Community Issues, the 4 outputs of WP2 were
D2.1 Legal and ethical framework and mapping report
D2.2 Report on social & ethical implications of community policing
D2.3 Report on requirements of diversity strands
D2.4 Ethical, legal and socially responsible framework TRAINING
All work under taken in this work package by the WP leaders and the partners ensured ethical, legal & community issues were considered and incorporated throughout the project and the outputs.
Work Package 3: Policing and Community Requirements and Best/Effective Practices, work undertaken;
Task 3.1: Review of existing CP practices
T3.2: Identification of stakeholder needs and perspectives
T3.3: Comparative view on stakeholder needs and perspectives
T3.4: Gathering of user requirements for CP tools
WP4 Community Policing Delivery Framework
D4.1: First report on population and scope for the Combined Effect Architecture Framework (CPAF).
D4.2: First report on gap, capability, role mapping and assessment for Combined Effect Community Policing initiatives between extant Community Policing methods and Community Policing Target Operating Model (TOM).
D4.3: Second report on population and scope for the Combined Effect Architecture Framework (CPAF).
D4.4: Second report on gap, capability and role mapping and assessment for Combined Effect CP initiatives between extant CP methods and CP Target Operating Model.
D4.5: First report on provision of usable community stakeholder outputs and meaningful scope for the CPAF, TOM and CONOPS. M23.
D4.6 Third report on population and scope for the combined affect Architecture framework (CPAF) was delivered in year 3
D4.7 Third report on Gap, capability and role mapping and assessment for Combined Effect CP initiatives between extant CP methods and CP Target Operating Model
D4.8 Second report on the provision of usable community stakeholder outputs and meaningful scope
Work Package 5, Focused on finalising the development of the Unity IT-Toolkit to ensure the systems could be integrated and tested in line with the remaining pilots.
Task 5.1 Define the high-level architecture of the technological components
Task 5.2 Modular Apps for citizens & Task 5.3 Modular Apps for LEA and officers
Task 5.4 Unity Core Platform
Task 5.5 Data driven analytics engine
Task 5.6 Integration and testing
Work Package 6
Task 6.1 Unity Multi-dimensional Integration Framework
Task 6.2 Preparation of the Unity Instantiations
Task 6.3 Realisation of the Unity Instantiations
T6.3 deals with the realization of the Unity instantiations.
T6.4 Unity Preliminary Evaluation
Work Package 7
T7.1: Determined the evaluation criteria to ensure disparate users groups and usage contexts were considered in T7.3 The deliverable linked to this task, influenced the approach to the pilot evaluations.
Task 7.2 Baseline measurements, however the results were a starting point for T7.3 testing.
Task 7.3 End user pilots, demonstrations and testing and validation
Task 7.4: Evaluation of short-term impacts
Task 7.5: Evaluation of mid-term impacts
Work Package 8 Dissemination and Exploitation and Training
T8.1 Training material development and training sessions for law enforcement agents
Task 8.2 Awareness raising campaigns for citizens and stakeholders
T8.3 Dissemination through website, press releases, conferences and publications
T8.4 Exploitation and realization strategy

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The Project results

The project defined an effective community policing definition, this resulted in the identification of 6 pillars of community policing which underpinned the project; Trust, Accountability, Information sharing, Collaboration, Addressing local needs & Prevention.
 
The approach & IT solutions were tested in 8 countries; Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Bulgaria, Macedonia & West Yorkshire.
 
These pilots saw stakeholders & citizens test solutions which addressed local concerns, using the IT or a problem solving approach. Unity engaged with LEAs, stakeholders & communities to establish processes for improved engagement with minority & hard to reach groups, recording direct, indirect, short & long term impacts.
The research & testing enabled community needs to heavily influence project deliverable & instantiations, thus capturing best practice. Unity developed community policing tools which create cohesive communities where the police are catalyst for change & citizens in their communities take ownership of issues.
 
Increased empowerment via the Unity approach enabled residents to be involved in service delivery, creating a process for community stakeholders & LEAs to increase citizen’s empowerment, leading to improved efficiency.

Throughout testing, 2 way information sharing enabled LEAs to provide updates on reductions in crime, disorder & anti-social behaviour to communities.
 
Participants reported improved perception of safety through increased visibility & access to LEAs. The pilots also engaged stakeholders in inclusive and communicative partnerships which evidenced the importance of citizen participation.

The Unity Portal records data posted by citizens, the analytic function in the system enables LEAs & community stakeholders to plan & apply the sentiment analysis feature to gauge the effectiveness of their engagement, which is a measured and targeted approach. Unity assists with and has revised effective delivery of services within community policing.
 
This innovative approach to measuring impact encourages stakeholders to develop strong working relationships with LEAs & citizens, increasing confidence in the police & community stakeholders.
 
While Unity focused on the safety and security of EU citizens, the developed solutions are scalable & have global potential.

Partners from Serco Belgium, Sheffield Hallam University,BayFHVR observe Croatian pilot

Unity Banner-used for promoting the project