Local software company, WPC from Keynsham, Bristol are using technology to support the police in their fight against alcohol related crime and disorder. Against stiff competition they have won a contract to supply a specialist software system, called Inn Keeper, to Hertfordshire Constabulary.

The new software will dramatically reduce the administrative aspects of police liquor licensing by replacing registers and paper based work processes with a fully computerised system, and the new information will enable officers to be effectively deployed on the streets to prevent potential problems or to deal with persistent problem areas.

Tom Sagal, sales manager at WPC said, "We know that the police service and other agencies have always been aware of the relationship between alcohol and crime but to deal with it effectively they needed precise statistics of what was happening and where, Inn Keeper will give them that information"

Divisional Police Licensing Officer at St Albans, Sergeant Nigel Eastaugh said, "Hertfordshire Constabulary identified the need for a county wide licensing system that would give staff easy and direct access to important and relevant information 24 hours a day. Potential problems are identified at an early stage, and appropriate police response is planned and implemented in advance."

Inn Keeper is now in use with five police forces in the United Kingdom and interest in the system is growing from other forces around the country.