A rollout of the 3,700 bespoke mobile operational devices to selected officers across the Met Police is complete. The hand held PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) offer mobile access to operational databases and electronic forms on the go and have the potential to save up to five minutes of an officer’s time per transaction.
The PDAs have six applications so far, with further applications planned for the future. Current applications include:
– Police National Computer for name, vehicle and driving license checks.
– National Mobile Phone Register to check whether property, such as phones or laptops are registered as lost or stolen.
– Voters database to check a person’s details against the Electoral Register.
– Stop and Search/Account forms to register a Stop and Search activity when an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that an individual is carrying drugs, weapons or stolen property, or general items that could be used to commit crime or to cause criminal damage. Or to record a Stop and Account when an officer stops a person and asks them to account for actions, behaviour, presence in an area, or their possession of something.
– Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for use in common road traffic offences without the need for automatic court proceedings.
– Collision/Accident Report Books (CARBs) to report a road traffic incident.
With thousands of transactions conducted a week, according to the latest figures, operational PDAs are estimated to be saving MPS officers around 11,700 hours per month, increasing the availability of officers to provide a strong visible presence on our streets.
The most popular applications are exceeding 100,000 transactions a month, meaning officers can dedicate more of their time patrolling the streets and keeping the city safe for Londoners and visitors.
The PDA works in a similar way to a smart phone, officers simply select the application they require using the touch screen and enter details using a mix of drop down menus and by keying in information using the screen keyboard. The PDA also provides the ability to copy and paste information between forms to save an officer having to re-enter the same information if completing more than one form or enquiry.
The most frequently used applications are the Police National Computer checks and Stop and Search form.
The devices are being issued to officers in roles that would make the greatest use and would benefit the most from the PDAs in their interactions with the public. Typical recipients include Safer Neighbourhoods, dedicated teams tackling local crime issues and emergency response team officers.
PDAs also benefit members of the public, as using direct access to key information can be completed more quickly, helping to minimise disruption to the individual.
Commander Tony Eastaugh, Senior Officer in Charge of the Operational PDA rollout, said: "The Commissioner has spoken about our drive to provide ‘better policing for less’ and equipping officers with PDAs is supportive of this.
"With the information they need at their fingertips, it enables our officers to conduct their enquiries quickly and effectively. It also demonstrates how technology is becoming a fundamental part of modern day policing, helping us to improve the service we offer to the public.
"The time savings, growing usage figures and officers’ enthusiasm for the devices is proof of the value they are bringing to the Met."
