A revolutionary project to bring up-to-date customised information about local communities direct to people’s homes is being piloted across the Wakefield district.  

West Yorkshire Police is developing an experimental iPortal website to enable users to tap in a postcode and request localised information from all the West Yorkshire Police sites. 

And Wakefield District Police has linked up the system with Wakefield Council enabling local residents to get customised information about both police and local authority services and news. 

This is the first time that police and partnership information is featured on single web portal page in this way, which enables public users to design their page round local news and information.  

Computer users are being invited to help test the new system and feedback any comments or issues. They can log on to http://iportal.westyorkshire.police.uk 

Users can select which areas of information they would like to view, for instance contacts and news from their local Neighbourhood Policing Team, weather updates or press releases from Wakefield District Council.  

There is only a limited choice at the moment, but this is being expanded, and could in the future include a wider range of local agencies and groups, promoting local partnerships.  

The exciting technology allows users to move their chosen content areas around the page allowing a more flexible choice of how they want to view the information. Also, the page can remember your postcode and your chosen layout for next time you visit.  

Chief Inspector Paula Booth, Wakefield’s Crime and Justice Co-ordinator, said: “This is a really exciting development which has masses of potential. Our new iPortal web page reflects both local police and partnership news which we hope will help boost interest and confidence with Wakefield communities. 

“Now people can just tap in their postcode and get a tailormade page with information about their local area.” 

Patrick Brooke, West Yorkshire Police Web Communications Manager, said: “From a practical point of view, it will provide public users with a one-stop-shop of local police and partnership news. It will deliver tailor-made Wakefield partnership information direct to the home of public users - one message, one voice.   

“Because the technology is so new, we are launching a “beta” test version first and inviting the public to help us develop it further.  We are inviting users to send in their comments and feedback so we can continue improving the system to make it more useful to local people.   

“We invite residents to try it out and tell us the things they would like it do in the future.” 

Cllr Olivia Rowley, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet member for community safety, said: “Using the opportunities of new technology helps us to reach more people in different ways. We are delighted to be leading the field.  We hope people will use the portal and let us know how what they think about the new service.”  

The iPortal has been developed by the Force’s Web Team in Media and Marketing in conjunction with the Force’s commercial web partners Direct IP.   

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