Trial aims to reduce paperwork and give frontline officers important information on the move, providing them with more time to reduce crime and support victims
Vodafone has begun a trial with the Metropolitan Police Service to supply its frontline officers with 500 iPad mini tablets and 4G connectivity.
A number of specially developed apps have also been created by the MPS, enabling them to securely access and update systems and databases at any time.
It means the frontline officers no longer need to return to the station to complete paperwork and can collect electronic witness statements and digital signatures at the crime scene.
The mobile operator said the trial aims to reduce paperwork and give the officers access to vital information wherever they are, resulting in them spending more time on the beat reducing crime and supporting victims.
MPS head of mobility planning superintendent Adrian Hutchinson said: “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.
“We want officers out on the beat, not stuck in the station filling out paperwork or sat at a computer. 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,”
Vodafone UK enterprise director Phil Mottram added: “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.”
