30 November 2005

Detica, the specialist IT consultancy announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the Home Office to act as client-side advisor on the new Single Non-Emergency Number (SNEN) programme. The contract, which is worth £1.2 million in the first year, is likely to run for 3 years.

The SNEN programme will deliver an innovative new service providing the UK public with a new 3 digit number to access community safety advice, information and action. Aimed at improving access to non-emergency services, it will also reduce the burden on the 999 service.

The Government committed to introducing the SNEN in its 2005 Election Manifesto as part of a package of measures designed to improve community safety. This joint initiative is being handled by the Home Office and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Detica's role is to manage the introduction of the new service. To do this, the consultancy is working closely with a first 'wave' of police and local authority partnerships to deliver a core service in 2006, followed by a nationwide roll-out by 2008.

Richard Gutsell, Home Office Account Manager at Detica, comments: "We are delighted to have won this exciting opportunity to work with the Home Office, police and local government to deliver a programme which will make a real difference to the general public."

Detica was awarded the contract as part of the Hedra Consortium, which delivers services through the Government's S-Cat catalogue.

Sally Clift or Rachel Ringstead Porter NovelliTel: +44 (0)207 853 2222email: or