New technology keeps police on beat

The Home Office is providing £1m from the Policing Innovation Fund to both forces jointly to develop the use of tablet devices such as iPads and lightweight laptops for officers and police community support officers (PCSOs).

Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Grove said: “I am delighted this joint award has been made, which will help us to push forward with our plans to free up our officers and get them out on patrol.

“Whilst we can’t totally free them from administrative tasks, this technology makes it easier and quicker for them.

“I am constantly told by the public they want to see police officers and PCSOs out on patrol in their communities, not hidden away in police stations, but at present our officers are constantly pulled back into buildings to complete paperwork and respond to emails.

“This award will allow us to move forward with our plans to open more police access points in shared buildings across the force area so officers can be more widely distributed in more communities, not just concentrated in a few large police stations as they are at present.

“The trials showed officers were able to spend up to two hours extra per shift on patrol when they had mobile technology available to them. Multiply this across the force and it will lead to a significant increase in our police presence and allow a better service to residents.”

The £20m Innovation Fund was launched by the Government last November with forces invited to put forward ideas for improving policing. The joint bid featured the findings of a pilot study in which mobile technology was tested to increase the visibility of police officers and PCSOs on patrol.