A recent trial by Vodafone UK and Metropolitan Police Service (Met) has been equipping officers with mobile devices and specially developed apps.
Currently, 500 officers on the frontline have access to iPad minis, 4G connectivity and secure device management in a bid to reduce paperwork and provide access to vital information.
In particular, constables can securely access and update systems and databases remotely, removing the need to return to the station to complete paperwork. Officers can also collect witness statements and digital signatures at a crime scene.
The trial began last summer as part of the Met’s ‘Total Technology’ strategy, which aims to transform policing by 2017. The Met is now looking to extend it.
"There is a huge opportunity for technology to transform policing, and this trial with Vodafone UK is a fantastic example of the Met making the best use of technology to deliver services to the public in new and innovative ways," said Superintendent Adrian Hutchinson, Head of Mobility Planning for the Metropolitan Police Service.
"We want officers out on the beat, not stuck in the station filling out paperwork or sat at a computer."
He added: "Working with Vodafone UK to deliver phase one of the project, we’ve already had a great response from officers who have used the devices, and we are confident that the project will help them to be more visible to the public and ultimately deliver a better service to Londoners," Superintendent Hutchinson continued.
Phil Mottram, Enterprise Director at Vodafone UK, commented: "It is fantastic to see the Met embracing the latest mobile technologies to their full potential. We know that technology can make a huge difference to frontline workers and ultimately to the vital service they deliver to citizens.
"By partnering with organisations such as the MPS we can support them to identify the right technologies that will really make a difference in delivering greater efficiency while improving frontline policing."
