Technology will provide 1,500 officers with the ability to capture information on their devices and reduce time filling out forms
O2 has teamed up with Airwave to provide a range of solutions to Derbyshire Constabulary that brings more of its officers to the frontline.
This sees 1,500 officers equipped with new smartphones and applications and provide them with access to Airwave’s ‘Pronto’ suite of mobile applications.
These will synchronise any information captured on the frontline with back office systems, which the mobile operator claimed will dramatically reduce the form-filling process and enable officers to process information anywhere and at any time.
It added further time and cost savings are also achieved through the reduced error rate because Pronto apps contain purpose-built electronic forms with mandatory fields, which ensure data is entered in the correct format at the first time of asking.
The technology has already been trialled with an unnamed mid-sized police force where the app was used to process 60,000 witness statements. This saved an average of 27 minutes and £42 saving per statement.
Flexibility and efficiency
O2 managing partner of its Criminal Justice and Emergency Services Practice Steve Norris said: “Derbyshire Constabulary is forward thinking and this partnership is an excellent example of how collaboration and connectivity can enable true flexibility and efficiency cost savings through streamlined work processes.
“The new smartphones and applications will have a positive impact not only on the force but the community too.”
Derbyshire Constabulary Assistant Chief Constable Chris Haward said: “Our aim is to help our officers become more flexible than ever before, reducing the number of hours they spend in the office and making sure their time is being used in the most valuable way.
“Instead of travelling to and from the police station to enter information into systems from paper notebooks, the officers can send and receive information directly from the frontline.”