Pito collars new IT chief

The Police IT Organisation (Pito) has appointed a former BT chief technology officer as its new chairman, responsible for creating an "electronically joined-up" criminal justice system.

Chris Earnshaw is to take up the role immediately, replacing Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Burton who had been in post since January 2001.

The announcement comes amid a wider shake-up within UK law enforcement IT.

Last month, John Suffolk replaced Jo Wright as director general at the Home Office's Criminal Justice IT organisation.

Meanwhile, former BOC Group chief executive Robert McFarland is two months into a Home Office sponsored review of Pito.

In a statement, Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said she was confident that Earnshaw's industry experience would help at Pito.

"Under his leadership, I am confident that Pito will become even more effective in delivering to the police service high quality information and communications technology and helping bring about an electronically joined-up criminal justice system," she said.

Earnshaw has a long career history at BT, including three years as group engineering director and chief technology officer.