Police hope mobile devices lead to profile boost in South Staffordshire

All frontline police officers, PCSOs and Specials across the county will be equipped with new smartphone and tablet devices.

They are designed to help officers have information and tools at their fingertips and prevent them from having to return to their stations to complete paperwork, submit reports and statements or access files.

Already the new high-tech equipment has made a difference - helping officers to carry out searches for missing people, update and complete crime tasks and access stop and search records when out on the beat.

It is believed the new equipment will make a real impact in South Staffordshire over the next 12 months - freeing up officers and enabling them to become more visible within their communities.

Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said: "I want to be sure officers have the right tools for the job. The top priority is to get officers out and about – more visible and more available. These new processes mean officers can spend less time on admin in a police station and more time in the communities they serve."

Police patrol cars will also be able to respond more rapidly to calls after being fitted with a new high-tech SPIRIT GPS system which aims to give police control room staff real time information on where each vehicle is, which officers are onboard and the specific expertise and capabilities available.

It will make sure suitably skilled officers are sent to incidents quicker and minimise the occasions when police from miles away respond to an incident even though suitable resources may be closer.

The introduction of the new systems are part of a drive by Mr Ellis to make Staffordshire the most technologically advanced local force in the country.

He said: “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."