From RCIPS  Wed 28 Nov 2018

Today, Wednesday 28 November, the RCIPS is announcing the launch of the mobile application of its organizational website, the RCIPS Mobile App, which is now available on the Google Play and Apple App stores for the Android and iPhone.  The App is free and features alerts and emergency updates, police press releases, community beat officer mobile numbers, and contacts and addresses for all RCIPS locations in a quick and easily accessible format from any mobile phone.

“Building closer ties with the community is a major strategic objective of the RCIPS that has been the goal of many initiatives this year, including the re-launch and expansion of our Community Policing Department, the launch of our new and interactive website in May, and now this mobile app,” said Derek Byrne, Commissioner of Police. “We are using all avenues available to us, from human interactions on-the-street to digital platforms and social media, in order to build the bridge with communities we need to have to prevent crime and strengthen public safety.”

The RCIPS Mobile App offers the convenience of accessing needed information on-the-go, with up-to-the-minute press releases, scrolling alerts for traffic blockages or emergency developments, and contact numbers for beat officers, police stations and offices across the organization, all of which can be dialled with one tap.  The App distils the most necessary immediate information from the website in a format that is not heavy with pictures or forms, so information can be quickly downloaded and maintain its convenience for the user. Career opportunities and crime prevention tips are also featured on the home page in this format.

“Thanks to mobile alerts and notifications that can be enabled with this App we can now provide official police information in a more immediate way to the public,” said Jacqueline Carpenter, RCIPS Spokesperson. “Nowadays the public obtains information from a variety of sources, including social media and blog sites, that don’t adhere to traditional journalistic standards and often aim to be more immediate than accurate.  With the channel of immediate police news that this app provides, the public can be empowered with official information alongside whatever else they may read online.”

The App not only provides information, it also incorporates interactive aspects of the police website to seek information from the public. A Submit a Tip button is prominently placed in the middle of the App home screen, and gives the user a quick and easy way to send information, photos or video to the police straight from their phone.  It is confidential and requires no personal information from the sender unless he or she chooses to provide it, or requests a response.

“We hope that the public will use the Submit a Tip feature on the App to send us information, photos or video about anything that they think we should know about,” continued Ms. Carpenter.  “It has the potential to be a channel for very timely information to police on a range of issues and strengthen our partnership with the community to get things done.”

The RCIPS Mobile App can be downloaded directly from the Google Play or Apple App Stores.  Enter “RCIPS” in the Search field.

IMAGE: The Home Screen of the Mobile App features scrolling press releases, alerts, and the Submit a Tip button, among other features.