Hansard

Police: Hand-held Computers

Volume 700: debated on Monday 21 April 2008

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Lord Taylor of Warwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When hand-held computers will be provided to police on the beat. [HL2707]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office
(Lord West of Spithead)

A number of police forces have issued hand-held computers to some of their officers, and six have run pilot trials funded by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA). In order to accelerate the deployment of hand-held devices in the police service, the Home Office has made a total of £50 million available, spread over the next three years. The programme is managed by the NPIA, working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities.

Forces have submitted proposals which are being assessed against the programme's objective of an additional 9,000 hand-held computers to be in use by September 2008. An announcement on the apportionment of the funding to the selected forces can be expected towards the end of April.