'Tag' system for police officers

All 31,500 officers could be traced with the device

The movements of every Metropolitan (Met) police officer could soon be monitored with a £2.2m tracking system.

The Automated Personal Location System (APLS) would use police radios to pin-point the exact location of officers on duty in London.

The Met said the electronic device would improve safety for officers and enable a quicker and more efficient response to incidents.

A pilot scheme is due to take place in two London boroughs in the autumn.

Urgent assistance

The technology is already in place as part of the Airwave system the police use but has yet to be activated.

The Metropolitan police said the scheme would cost £2.2m if rolled out to all 31,500 officers in London's 33 boroughs.

Currently, an officer's position can only be located via the system in their patrol car or when they notify others using a police radio.

When an officer presses their emergency button the control room is able to identify the individual officer but not their specific location.

The Met said the new system will allow an officer in need of urgent assistance to be located and assisted much more quickly.

A Metropolitan Police statement said: "Although they may be located by their police vehicle they may not be near their vehicle when they require urgent assistance.

"This is especially true in densely populated areas that are typically found in London."