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Police go mobile with Blackberrys and iPhones

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Tue, 21 Feb 2012 7:06a.m.

The hope is the new technology will allow police to spend more time on the beat

The hope is the new technology will allow police to spend more time on the beat

Police around the country are trialling handheld gadgets in an effort to get them spending less time at their desks and more time on the beat.

About 100 officers in Lower Hutt, Hawke's Bay, the West Coast and Counties-Manukau West are trialling Blackberrys and iPhones that are connected to the police email system and calendar, Fairfax reports.

Applications being developed will allow them to check people's criminal history and enter information about jobs they attend. They will also be able to see events they need to get to.

Tablets, iPads and computers will be trialled later this year.

After mobile technology hard-wired into police cars was unsuccessful in Auckland and Waikato, Inspector Simon Feltham said the new trial was a "change of direction".

The hope is the new technology will allow police to spend more time on the beat.

"The ability of officers to carry out tasks remotely will ultimately mean they can work more efficiently with increased safety."

Time saved could then be put into crime prevention.

While iPads and Blackberrys have been around for years, Insp Feltham said police had held off adopting them straight away.

"If you are trying to do the absolutely cutting edge you end up spending a lot more money on research and development."

Earlier this year Police Commissioner Peter Marshall said the new technology could see police writing out infringement notices in the street rather than having to take people back to the station for minor crimes.

NZN

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Comments

21 Feb 2012 11:36p.m.

Nicholas wrote:

They'll be able to catch criminals as soon as the offender posts footage of their offending on Facebook (This tactic would actually work - there are some incredibly stupid criminals out there!).

21 Feb 2012 07:13p.m.

matt wrote:

i have a feeling "angry birds" may distract them from catching criminals

21 Feb 2012 10:00a.m.

jan wrote:

I hope the cops got a bulk deal when purchasing these expensive items. I am sure all the people recently laid off in government jobs to save money will be thrilled at the amount of money the police have. The cops can then use these new toys to arrest the laid off govt workers who will have to steal to survive. I can just see a cop being done over in order to rob them of their I phone. Sure it might have security to stop some people accessing the information, but hey criminals know criminals and soon all your information will be known by others. Eg witness statements, minor traffic offences. Happy with how this country is being big brother monitored? And don't any one come back with, if you have done nothing then you have nothing to fear. The police computer has more on you than you realise, remember there is infomation sharing between govt departments. Hackers if you get one, tell the public what you have got access to. Soon the cops will look like a walking swiss army knife with tazers, cuffs, radios, i phones,guns etc on their tool belt. Yes I know they dont carry all this on them, but the image is there.