Technology means more time in community for police

They say that up to 150,000 more hours of “police visibility” are possible because officers can communicate with their stations without having to go to them as often.

South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings visited Woodseats Police Station to see the new tech for himself and learn about how it is changing police work.

The mobile device project – a joint initiative by South Yorkshire and Humberside Police – has cost £1.6 million and offers up a toughened laptop, security software, hardware, training and vehicle fitting.

Dr Billings said: “Whilst the Government continues to slice away at the policing grant, we are constantly looking for new innovative ways in policing our communities and to do it in collaboration with other forces – to do more for less.

“With the ever increasing demands on officers and declining resources, these mobile devices allow officers to update police systems whilst working in their neighbourhoods.

“The 150,000 hours visibility they provide equates to an additional 74 full-time officers policing the streets.”

Temporary Inspector Richard Atherton said: “These mobile devices have received excellent feedback from officers.

“The use of the devices in police vehicles mean that work can be carried out live in the neighbourhoods and journeys in and out of police stations are no longer necessary.”