GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE MOBILE TEAM WINS ‘INNOVATIVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES AWARD’

Mobile technology has helped GMP introduce place-based policing, where officers are located within communities, solving the root cause of problems and making decisions ‘on the go’.

Alongside its partners, GMP has provided 9,000 smartphones and tablets to officers and staff across the Force. In addition, a suite of apps was also made available enabling GMP to complete a range of activities while interacting with members of the public and victims of crime, allowing officers to spend more time in the community without the need to return to the station to complete paperwork.

Further highlights of the project also include:

• Over 85,000 witness statements recorded digitally instead of handwritten
• Over 120,000  crimes created on mobile, which would have previously been recorded by a Crime Recorder
• 90% of users feeling more confident using the devices to problem solve in their communities

Chief Superintendent Phil Davies from Greater Manchester Police said: "I’m delighted the work of our multi-agency team has been recognised by wider public sector leaders.

“The team dedicated themselves to the launch of our mobile platform and took a problem-solving approach to deliver the project. The resulting technology now provides a platform for further innovations, investment and improvements once it is further incorporated into other systems."

Shelley Heckman, Director of iNetwork, said: “We had a really high number of quality submissions this year and we are delighted to see our police colleagues get the recognition they deserve for the hard work they do.”