Officers take laptops on the beat

Up to 30% of police officers' time could be saved, bosses say

Police in Leicestershire are being equipped with laptops to convert their cars into mobile offices and cut down on paperwork.

The force has secured 50 mobile data terminals (MDTs), and is the first to do so in England. They enable officers to record crimes live from the scene.

The computers have a docking station in the car but can be taken out and about.

A police spokesman said no confidential or sensitive information would be stored on the machines.

Significant change

Insp Sanjiv Pattani, who is getting the MDTs ready for use, said they would have a big impact on the way officers worked.

"We think this is one of the most important changes to the way we're policing since, perhaps, the launch of radios because we're going to be enabling our officers to have a complete mobile office while out on patrol.

"We will increase visibility and accessibility to the public and also cut down on bureaucracy," he said.

Police officials believe the MDTs, which allow officers access to more than 70 separate IT systems, could free up to 30% of frontline staff's time.