One of the touchscreen devices being rolled out to police officers

New technology is being rolled out to police officers in Lichfield and Burntwood today.

They will take to the street with smartphones and tablets in a bid to keep them on the beat more often.

One of the touchscreen devices being rolled out to police officers
One of the touchscreen devices being rolled out to police officers

Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis says the move will improve efficiency and lead to a force better positioned to meet the needs of modern policing.

He says the devices will allow them to complete paperwork and access files on the move, reducing the amount of time they’ll need to spend in police stations dealing with admin.

“This is the start of a programme of work that once completed will be the most radical and practical change to frontline policing and the wider criminal justice system in a generation,” said Mr Ellis.

“It is pioneering work that puts Staffordshire ahead of the majority of forces in the country, but more importantly we are taking a significant step to delivering the kind of policing local people tell me they want and need.

“At a time when some police forces are abandoning the traditional neighbourhood policing model, our commitment to local, neighbourhood policing is stronger than ever. The top priority is to get officers out and about – more visible and more available.

Matthew Ellis
Matthew Ellis

“This new technology will help free up an extra 250,000 hours of police time to be out on the beat a year which is the equivalent of an extra 100 officers on duty.”

The roll-out of technology will be completed by February, but Mr Ellis said the changes were driven by the need to arm officers for the modern challenges of their job.

He explained: “Staffordshire has some of the best police officers in the country, and I want to be sure they have the right tools for the job.

“Police officers have told me they really want this technology so they can do an even better job in their communities. They are determined to make it work.

“Officers are currently spending too much time entering the same information many times on different computer systems – and we’re going to consign that approach to history. Entering the information once, cutting bureaucracy, saving more time and capturing and using digital evidence on the streets and beyond is where this is heading.

“This is part of wider investment in technology that will dramatically improve Staffordshire Police’s intelligence capability and make it the most efficient, agile and effective police force in the country. It’s not about how much money is spent, but how well it is spent.”

Initially, each device will have access to seven key processes such as taking electronic witness statements, stop and search forms, missing people reports and crime scene management. It will also allow officers to share information – such as domestic abuse risk assessments – directly with other agencies. Eventually, 30 processes will be able to be carried out via the technology.

Temporary Chief Constable Jane Sawyers said: “The ability to free our officers and staff from completing paperwork in police stations means that they can spend more time in our communities keeping people safe and reassured.

“With a tablet or smart phone and miniature printer, our officers can carry out, securely, the most important tasks wherever they are. And over the next year we’ll be adding significantly to the number of processes we develop, making Staffordshire police the most mobile police force in the country, enabling our officers to spend more time on the beat.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.