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Dyfed Powys Police officers are ‘digitally mobile’

PC 385 Ben Ashton, PC 76 Leah Evans, PC 376 Phil Westbury and PC 905 Eleri Edwards
New phones: PC 385 Ben Ashton, PC 76 Leah Evans, PC 376 Phil Westbury and PC 905 Eleri Edwards with their mobile digital policing devices.
New phones: PC 385 Ben Ashton, PC 76 Leah Evans, PC 376 Phil Westbury and PC 905 Eleri Edwards with their mobile digital policing devices.

Some 500 frontline police officers have been issued with smart phones, which allow them to carry out the majority of their everyday policing duties while out on patrol, Dyfed-Powys Police have announced

This number will rise to 650 by April. The Samsung Galaxy Notebook 3 handheld devices have replaced the traditional pocket notebook and can be used for a range of duties including crime recording, police checks, road traffic collision recording and on-street cannabis warnings.

PC Ben Ashton, a roads policing officer in Carmarthenshire and mobile digital policing trainer, said: “The new device is completely changing the way frontline police officers conduct their business. Everything can be done while we are out and about allowing us to provide a much more visible policing presence on the streets.

“There is a lot less time-consuming paperwork, less need to go back to the police station to complete certain tasks and a far more streamlined process in completion and progression of witness statements, crime reports and forms.”

The introduction of handheld devices to the force is part of the strategy to be completely digital by 2016.

Newly recruited police officers are currently receiving training on the devices and will be the first wave of officers to never use the traditional pocket notebook in their police career.

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Catherine Davies, Mobile Digital Policing Project Manager, said: “This is a massive cultural change for Dyfed Powys Police and one that has been met positively by the vast majority of police officers who have received the devices.

“Mobile Digital Policing will enable the Force to save money at a time where every penny counts and reduce administration time at police stations for our frontline officers allowing them to spend more time out in their communities where they are needed most.

“The public often ask for a stronger police presence in their communities and the use of this new technology will allow this to happen.”

Planned future developments of Mobile Digital Policing include use of the devices for firearms applications, missing person searches and Adult Community Resolutions for minor crime and anti-social behaviour.

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