WPC Software of Keynsham, Bristol, specialists in providing systems to the emergency services, have installed a new computerised system to manage the licensing of firearms and shotguns in Cumbria.

Cumbria Constabulary have purchased a number of WPC's applications, based around its bestselling Shogun Firearms administration package. With this new system a firearms operator can quickly retrieve information, for example who owns a firearm, that firearm's history, a certificate's expiry date etc. This will help the force deal with public and internal firearms queries much more efficiently, and will be a welcome aid with the backlog caused by the foot and mouth epidemic. In addition to the Shogun system, the contract includes the Intranet subsystem, which allows designated police officers throughout Cumbria to view vital details on individuals and organisations holding weapons and explosives. WPC have also installed Ferret, their document management system, which allows users to electronically scan in forms, letters and other documents and link these to the appropriate records on Shogun.

Including Cumbria Constabulary, WPC Software's Shogun software package is installed with 19 police forces throughout the country and the company has recently received its twentieth order for the system. WPC is a market leader in developing advanced applications for the emergency services and has systems installed with the majority of the UK's 51 police forces.