CONSTABLES in Craven have gone on the beat with new handheld technology which police chiefs say will let them spend more time helping the communities they serve.

Officers and PCSOs throughout North Yorkshire have started using tablets and smartphones equipped with specially-developed software that cuts down on ‘desk time’ by letting them work from virtually anywhere in the county.

It is estimated that when fully rolled out, the devices will save the average officer several hours per week - through a combination of fewer return visits to the police station and making administrative processes quicker. Police chiefs claim that this could increase ‘officer visibility’ by around 10 per cent. Frontline officers and PCSOs will receive the new devices this year.

Supt Mike Walker, who has led the project for North Yorkshire Police, said: “People often tell us they like to see police officers and PCSOs out on the beat. This technology means officers and PCSOs can spend more time keeping people and communities safe, and less time sitting behind a desk. This is great on an individual basis, but when we scale it up across the county, the total amount of time we save as a force is massive.

“This is truly innovative technology. It’s been developed specifically to reflect our needs as an organisation and, even more importantly, the needs of the communities we work in.

“It’s been a huge project and I’m delighted with what we’ve achieved – it will help us deliver an exemplary level of policing right across North Yorkshire.”

Police say the technology will help them to:

lGather and build evidence at the scene of a crime, including photos, videos and other documents, and upload it to police systems immediately.

lSearch a number of police systems without having to return to the police station, giving them more access to data at crime scenes or while out on patrol.

lCompile, submit and share files with colleagues from anywhere, which cuts down on travelling time and desk time.

lView a live map that shows the incidents happening nearby and further afield, and indicates where their colleagues are.

PC Adam Smith has been one of the first officers to use the new technology. He said: “Anything that increases the amount of time we can spend with people in our communities is a massive bonus. It’s sure to improve the way we work.”