Cumbria police has introduced a number of apps for its officers to allow them to access information at the touch of a button.
The force has teamed up with Durham Constabulary and a link-up with Microsoft and Tisski to allow officers to do more on their mobile devices.
Funding for the scheme has been provided through the county’s office of the police and crime commissioner
The technology, created through work with Microsoft and its partner Tisski, is also intended to be used for greater interaction with the public, a police spokesman said.
They added: “It allows officers and staff of all ranks and in all roles to suggest new applications that could help their jobs, particularly frontline police. IT staff would then put the ideas into practice.
“Using the technology means the two police forces are ensuring officers have both the correct resources and skills to tackle crime in an increasingly digital-focussed world.
“Currently apps are being used for tasks such as taking witness statements, acting as a pocket notebook and dealing with vehicle tickets, with more to follow.
“The apps can be designed at short notice to the specifics needed in the particular force areas and department.”
Cumbria and Durham constabularies already have an ongoing partnership in which they collaborate across a range of functions and they have partnered with Microsoft and Tisski on the development of these apps.
This Data and Technology Innovation Hub is to be used to develop more apps to help police tackle crime and keep people safe in an ever-changing world.
Chief Constable Michelle Skeer said: “This gives us the ability to be innovative with cutting edge technology, developing new solutions at speed.
“It also gives us increased visibility in our communities, which we know people want, as more can be done while officers are out-and-about, enabled on their handheld devices.
“It will give officers greater access to up-to-date info at touch of a button.
“It also allows us to be more innovation-led, reacting to requests from officers and staff on new and improved ways to do our jobs while keeping officers out in our communities.
“Ultimately, it helps our officers do their jobs better for the benefit of tackling and deterring crime and keeping the communities of Cumbria safe.”
Chief Superintendent Jonathan Blackwell said: “This new technology is aimed at helping operational policing – the officers on the frontline keeping our communities safe.
“As the world evolves, so do the demands on police forces.
“Crime is changing and the complexity of crime is changing because the way we live our lives is becoming more and more digital, which has been emphasised during the pandemic.
“Our officers need the competence and confidence to operate in a digital world.
“If our staff have no access to technology, they will still be operating in a digital world.
“So maximising the use of technology allows us to work differently and better, more effectively and more efficiently.
“We’re delighted to be working in this technology innovation hub.
“It allows us to design and build apps at short notice that are what our officers and staff need to tackle and deter crime and keep people safe. It can make a real difference.”
Cumbria’s police and crime commissioner, Peter McCall, said: “Technology is constantly advancing, as is policing and indeed the way criminals operate too, across the world.
“I can confidently say that Cumbria police are right at the front end of utilising digital technology to both get ahead of criminals but also to ensure that we give officers the best tools to help them to be agile and responsive to the public.
“This is a fast-moving area of business but with the potential to really make a positive impact on the service, engagement and availability we are able to offer to residents here in Cumbria.
“Cumbria is an incredibly large and rural county so just one area of business to improve is to be able to cut out the travel from crime scene to police station, or for specialist officers to be consulted remotely is a huge benefit to our officers and the public, but there are many other ways that these projects will improve service.
“The constabulary, Microsoft and Tisski have done a fantastic job on getting this set up but even more exciting is the potential for much more development and I look forward to seeing what type of apps and functions will present themselves in the future and even more important seeing positive changes for the benefit of the wider public.“
