New phones helping police be smart
Police in South Yorkshire using their new BlackBerrys
ABOUT 3,000 police officers, detectives, PCSOs and civilians in South Yorkshire now have BlackBerry smartphones to help them access records when out on patrol, police chiefs have revealed.
Specialist policing ‘apps’ have been developed for the phones to enable officersto tap into records and databases while on the move, allowing them to spend more time on the frontline.
The roll out of the handheld technology has been hailed a success by the county’s force, despite a national audit of the £80 million Government programme to provide all frontline officers with the devices claiming just one in five forces are using them effectively.
Superintendent Jason Harwin, South Yorkshire Police head of business change directorate, said: “The introduction of smartphones has been a success, as it enables officers to access data at the point of need, improving response times, reducing Airwave usage and making better use of public resources.”
Officers are also using the cameras on the devices to photograph evidence on the spot and are emailing each other photos of offenders or missing people when searches need to be widened out.
Police officers are also being trained in how to fill in forms on them.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
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RobM
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:44 PM@ George1916 -- He's taking a picture of the passenger in the van beside him. :P I don't think it's a good idea to give Police devices such as this. They're easily hacked and potentially confidential information could easily be intercepted. Not to mention, a majority of coppers - the slightly older ones, have enough trouble dialing a normal phone with their huge-ass donut-graspers - never mind using the buttons on these tiny blackberry keyboards. LOL! (Oh and... technology and old people don't mix. No offence Coffindodgers!)
George1916
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 05:06 PMIs there something wrong with his eyesight, my gran needs to hold her phone at arms length to be able to see it.
serendipity
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 05:01 PMHe's holding it upside down.
Ukip
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 02:28 PMI caught a friend of mine who is a policeman using his radio while driving, while anybody else would be prosecuted for the same thing. Double standards, but then you only have to see the way politicians behave. Chris Hulme springs to mind and our chief constable of south Yorkshire.
Zap
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:14 PMdo the same rules apply as apply to motorists re - mobile phones?
Jeremiah
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:28 AMBlackberrys for police 'not providing value for money': http:www.bbc.co.uknewsuk-16753318 In other news detectives called Sheffield "a khazi" http:www.guardian.co.uktechnology2012feb03anonymous-hacks-call-fbi-scotland-yard
Ukip
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 08:36 AMI think appearing in public on the beat would improve crime reduction even more and actually dealing with real criminality. The nearest police station to us, is 11 miles away. My grandad who was a chief inspector in Sheffield, must be turning over in his grave wondering what is going off. Even 15 years ago, he used to complain about the police becoming a joke.
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