“In [the field of police transcriptions], the reliability, professionalism and confidentiality of any service provider need to be considered, to safeguard against organisational risk.” — Police Inspector Peter StablefordAppen ticks both these boxes, with its accurate, flexible, timely and secure transcription services. And the company already provides these services to several police forces including London’s Metropolitan Police and the States of Jersey Police. Now, to tie in with the ACPC’s 2019 conference, a feature article in the accompanying magazine accpolice.org showcases Appen’s work with the Bermuda Police Service (BPS). In it, Inspector Peter Stableford explains why the BPS decided to outsource transcription and what the benefits have been. “I have no hesitation in saying that outsourcing transcription is the most reliable and cost-effective solution for any police force, especially those with a high volume of interviews to process,” he says. “We simply could not achieve the same reliability or cost effectiveness with in-house transcribers.”
There’s plenty of evidence to show that moving transcription services out of house is a cost-effective move that puts police officers back on the frontline. But money’s not the only thing to consider.
“The decision wasn’t made on costings alone,” reflects Peter. “In this field, the reliability, professionalism and confidentiality of any service provider need to be considered, to safeguard against organisational risk.”
Specialist providers like Appen offer more accurate transcripts than in-house teams, with ISO9001-accredited services, the gold standard for quality. They’re experienced and can work in a range of formats and styles. And they’re more reliable, able to cope with ‘last minute’ or high-volume requests.
Sounds like an open and shut case. But some of the material police forces need to transcribe is sensitive or highly confidential. If you do decide to outsource, how do you make sure your information is safe in someone else’s hands?
“The risk of highly sensitive information contained in some interviews being leaked cannot be overstated and would severely undermine confidence in any police service if it were to occur,” Peter warns.
BPS specified high levels of security clearance for transcribers, along with robust information handling systems. Appen’s staff are rigorously vetted (signing parts of the UK’s Official Secrets Act) and its data management processes are accredited to ISO20071.
With the right planning, working with an external transcription provider can bring significant benefits. You’ll certainly save money. You’ll get more accurate written records too. But you’ll also get a skilled, experienced partner ready to help whenever and however you need them. Better for less, if you like.
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The ACCP Annual General Meeting and Conference takes place from 21 to 24 May in the Cayman Islands. Find out more at accpolice.org and contact us to learn more about Appen’s cost-effective, secure transcription services. 
