ESSEX Police’s new £32million Athena computer system has collapsed... days after it finally went live.

The system – pioneered by the Essex force – is designed to allow police to share information about criminals and crime across boundaries.

It was finally launched – three years behind schedule – and promptly broke down, because of what Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston, described as “teething problems”.

He defended the system, explaining: “Athena is designed to integrate with major external computer systems, particularly in the criminal justice and courts system at the national level.

“Many of the problems experienced have been the result of events in some part of that wider system.

“I pay tribute to the hard work of the implementation team in resolving those issues as quickly.”

The system promises to revolutionise police access to intelligence, giving officers in the forces signed up to it the best, most accurate and most up-to- date information on criminals and suspects.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Athena has been one of the biggest changes Essex Police has seen for many years and has affected almost every part of the force in providing a step-change in the way we handle information and investigate crime.

“The transition has, in the main, gone well, but, inevitably, with a change of this scale, there are processes which have needed to be altered or refined to work effectively in the real world of policing.

“Every department has contingency plans to address issues as they arise to ensure we maintain a high level of service.”

Essex has contributed about £7million to the project, with other forces and the Home Office also sharing the cost of developing the system and getting to work.