App-y news for Sussex Police officers (From The Argus)
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App-y news for Sussex Police officers
5:30pm Tuesday 1st January 2013 in News By Peter Truman
Officers are very app-y with their new tablet computers, according to police.
A batch of BlackBerry tablets have been handed to officers in Lewes as part of a trial by Sussex Police.
The aim is to improve efficiency while cutting costs, with the force needing tomake £50 million worth of savings in the next five years.
Sussex Police said it had already developed almost 30 apps for the new devices and they are already having an impact on the daily lives of the PCs who are using them.
Chief Inspector James Asser described howthe stop and search app had modernised the traditional approach.
The tablet, for example, maps where each stop and search takes place.
Another app developed by the force is the command and control system, which is used to assign officers to duties.
Officers can use the device to see where they are going but also research the location to see any other records of incidents in the area.
And the witness statement app means officers can get an electronic signature from witnesses, recognised by the courts, and can then email the statement if needed.
The idea of rolling out tablets had been subject to criticism, with some concerned the force could be saddled with a bill worth millions for the devices.
Officers in Lewes with the tablet have access to emails, custom police apps and outside internet sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
A force spokeswoman said the internet was for “legitimate purposes”
only, adding that there were “policies and procedures in place to monitor for any improper use”.
The trial will run for three months and may then be expanded to other areas of the force.
Comments(13)
thisistinpot
says...
7:10pm Tue 1 Jan 13
funkyyoyo
says...
8:23pm Tue 1 Jan 13
Hermit 101
says...
8:43pm Tue 1 Jan 13
But at £999 thats a heck of a lot of money!
funkyyoyo
says...
9:01pm Tue 1 Jan 13
Hermit 101 wrote:if they have paid £999 each for them,questions need answering as they are £100 the 64 gb wifi ones
I think the idea will be officers working from their cars on computers not rushing back to offices, therefore less police stations required and saving cash.
But at £999 thats a heck of a lot of money!
mustaphaLeeko
says...
9:56pm Tue 1 Jan 13
funkyyoyo wrote:I think the article isn't very well written as I found an article online saying that it would include a dock for the playbook, a printer, a scanner, NFC connectivity, GPS, the Blackberry mini keyboard, and a webcam for live streaming all installed in the police car, AND a blackberry mobile for communication with the tablet, as well as all the customised software for Police use.
Hermit 101 wrote:if they have paid £999 each for them,questions need answering as they are £100 the 64 gb wifi ones
I think the idea will be officers working from their cars on computers not rushing back to offices, therefore less police stations required and saving cash.
But at £999 thats a heck of a lot of money!
If succesful would be rolled out to about 400 Police cars, and no doubt nicked by scroats within a few weeks! lol.
Clouded Judgement
says...
11:32pm Tue 1 Jan 13
Why?
When stopping and searching someone you don't want expensive kit to hand incase you have to arrest the person your searching! 1x playbook damaged in the course and further arrest for criminal damage!
What is wrong with the pen and paper. 19p Bic Biro (other brands are also available) + paper = no more than 20p - which could be easily thrown to arrest someone and then recovered - IN ONE PIECE!
The only other question would be how does it connect? 3G or 4G ? Very expensive, so actually not worth the cost of new bobbies on the streets......
Hang on..... No one wants to hear that they want coppers on the streets, just that they are able to fill in their paperwork!
Be interesting to know if the officers who are trailing them are response coppers or back office! And if it does get rolled out across the force, does that mean each officer will get a Blackberry mobile phone too. The two sync together or they not thought of that yet?!?!?!.....
Still Blackberry is the cheaper technology to Apple. If they want to waste money at least they could buy the decent stuff.
emma barnes
says...
2:08am Wed 2 Jan 13
om/watch?feature=pla
yer_embedded&v=_BOEZ
HoCDgg
Crystal Ball
says...
12:43pm Wed 2 Jan 13
"Evening all" has now been replaced by "Can you wait until I log-on?".
nocando
says...
5:59pm Wed 2 Jan 13
D360
says...
8:31pm Thu 3 Jan 13
nocando wrote:There are plenty out there on both Apple and android, clearly you took the smart step of installing as tracker on your bike to post such a flippant comment so I'm surprised you didn't download one already?
Electronic intelligence substituting brain power, something the police are unable to display much of these days.Have they got an app for finding my stolen motorbike?
D360
says...
8:31pm Thu 3 Jan 13
nocando wrote:There are plenty out there on both Apple and android, clearly you took the smart step of installing as tracker on your bike to post such a flippant comment so I'm surprised you didn't download one already?
Electronic intelligence substituting brain power, something the police are unable to display much of these days.Have they got an app for finding my stolen motorbike?
D360
says...
8:31pm Thu 3 Jan 13
nocando wrote:There are plenty out there on both Apple and android, clearly you took the smart step of installing as tracker on your bike to post such a flippant comment so I'm surprised you didn't download one already?
Electronic intelligence substituting brain power, something the police are unable to display much of these days.Have they got an app for finding my stolen motorbike?
Algeria Touchshriek says...
5:43pm Tue 1 Jan 13
We need more Bobbies on the beat, not i-pads.
When will the politicians realise this?
A visible police presence reduces crime. END OF!