Better mobile phones ‘mean more bobbies on the beat’

POLICE Scotland will spend more than £20 million rolling out new and money-saving mobile technology.

The force’s civilian

Deputy Chief Officer David Page said staff and officers were currently operating “inefficiently” with either no or out-of-date phones.

He told watchdog the Scottish Police Authority that new phones could generate around £49m of efficiency savings over a five-year period through time saved by staff.

This is equivalent to the additional capacity of 400 extra officers, he said.

The Herald earlier this month revealed money from proposed speed awareness courses and other projects had been diverted to buy new mobile phones.

He said: “Our communities will see our officers in their space much more frequently. Our officers won’t be travelling back to their bases, they will be given better information to do their job.

“It’s a huge enabler for officers to become much more productive and much more visible in their communities.

“The investment in the national network is what we need to do to stop our systems from creaking and going out of date, but also to allow them to support mobility.”

Mr Page told the board the initial plan would see the roll-out of 600 devices by the end of the financial year, with the full 10,000 to follow.

Elaine Wilkinson, who chairs the SPA finance committee, said the business case had the support of the board, but added: “We don’t take investments of this level lightly without looking at the benefits.”