Mobile Information
The Mobile Information Programme enables police forces to develop and adopt new ways of working by improving officers' ability to use and share information when out on patrol.
During 2007-08, the Home Office allocated £80 million of funding to support the delivery of handheld computers to frontline police officers for the next 3 years. The funding was provided to free up police time and professionalise the police service. It is expected that 30,000 officers will benefit by March 2010. The devices, such as handheld computers, are changing the way police officers work. Mobile information reduces the times when officers have to return to the station by giving them access to vital information on the spot. It provides timely information that allows officers to make informed operational decisions. With this information, police officers will then be able to react and respond more quickly and appropriately. Download brochure
The Mobile Information Programme (MIP) is revolutionising policing in the UK by delivering 21st century mobile technology to frontline police officers and staff.
Some key information services that forces can mobilise include the following: A key element in the success of the programme is to improve information management within the police service. Providing good quality information at the point of need assists with decision making processes and allows police officers and staff to work autonomously. Extending the capability to allow information to be reused once entered or retrieved reduces the opportunity for errors, improves data quality and provides real-time updates. The end result is a reduction in bureaucracy, effective deployment of resources and a reduction in the time spent in the station. The review conducted by Sir Ronnie Flanagan also recommended that avoiding repeated data entry helps to streamline police processes (recommendation 10). Case study 1 - Identification Two response team officers were required to work in a neighbouring subdivision that neither was familiar with. During the shift, they were tasked with visiting a local hostel to locate and arrest a suspect for a minor offence. As neither of the officers knew the suspect, they carried out a local intelligence check via a handheld mobile data device. The device displayed a picture of the suspect. As they entered the premises, the officers immediately recognised the individual walking down the stairs as their suspect and arrested him. Having access to this information through a mobile device negated the need for the officers to return to a police station to undertake checks before attending the premises, or indeed attend the premises and rely on the co-operation of staff and other residents to identify the person. It is not uncommon to make multiple visits to a location in this type of enquiry before locating the suspect. In this instance mobile access to information resulted in a more efficient response and freed them up to deal with other incidents. A Police Community Support Officer was out on patrol when she had cause to observe an individual acting in a suspicious manner but not actually committing any offence. She thought she recognised the male and checked the daily briefing on her BlackBerry mobile device, which resulted in a positive identification. She was then able to relay the information to the CCTV monitoring centre in order for them to observe his movements. British Transport Police officers were on an evening patrol at an underground station in East London when they saw a young boy who caused them some concern. They approached the boy and suspected that he may have run away from home. The boy reluctantly provided his details, and the officers carried out checks on the Police National Computer (PNC). No missing reports were revealed. Still concerned, they managed to get part of an address in the Home Counties. They carried out a check on the address on the voters system using a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and questioned the boy regarding the registered occupant. When the names of the boy's parents were mentioned, he broke down in tears and told the officers the full details, and that he had run away from home. The officers contacted the parents and arranged for him to be picked up. Within four hours, the boy was home with his parents. While attending a crime scene, an officer received serious complaints from the victim in relation to their previous involvement with the police over another crime. The officer was able to provide the victim with his personal contact number and email address to enable the victim to contact him at any future time. These actions helped reassure the victim, who was much happier with the level of support provided. Case study 5 - False information In recent years, there has been a marked increase in providing false details to the police. As a consequence, officers spend a considerable amount of time trying to establish the true identity of individuals. This process could take several hours for what could be a relatively minor offence. Shortly after the deployment of a mobile information system in Warrington, one of the officers involved in the mobile information trial stopped a local youth who had been found acting in suspicious circumstances. The youth had a long history of giving false details but on this occasion remarked, "I suppose I'd better give you my right name 'cos I know you can get my picture on that thing". Case study 6 - Reducing paperwork While attending the scene of a minor road traffic accident in Bedfordshire involving a number of vehicles, the officer recorded the details on his BlackBerry. He recorded the insurance details, vehicle indexes, names, addresses and email addresses of all drivers involved. The information was then passed to all relevant parties via email. Case study 7 - Scenes of crime A number of burglaries occurred in the Grantham area in Lincolnshire. Fingerprints were left at the scene at one burglary. Before the force started using mobile information it would have taken days to get the print to the lab and processed but because the Scenes of Crime Officer was able to use a laptop and scanning device to send the print via mobile communications it was identified in hours. The offender was arrested on the same day as the burglary. May 2008: Mobile Information Programme receives £50 million to roll out 10,000 hand held computers December 2008: Additional £30 million funding for police handheld computers March 2010: Deadline for roll out of 30,000 mobile information devices Back to top If you have access to the Police National Network, you may also be interested to visit the Mobile Information page on the extranet site.The Benefits
Accessible Information
Why Officers Need Mobile Information
How Mobile Technology is Making a Difference?
Funding Announcements
September 2007: PM announces funding for mobile technologyFurther information
