Caithness Police Prepare for Technology

Caithness police officers set to use mobile technology by next spring.

12:54 10 September 2019

Local Highland Councillor Matthew Reiss, a former senior police officer, has confirmed council plans to provide officers throughout the Highlands and the Islands with mobile devices.

 

 

 

Councillor Reiss, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness, said that the mobile technology would provide officers with useful apps that they can use to carry out checks and file crime reports. He added that such functions would help them spend more time with local communities and focus more on crime prevention. Currently, officers have to return to base to record details of the incident each time a crime occurs.

 

 

 

Councillor Reiss said: "This is a very big step forward and will mean officers can spend more time in the villages or wherever and get more involved with the community. The Caithness officers will get the last of their training in October."

 

The £21million project is part-funded by the Scottish Government. It will see about 10,000 Police Scotland being issued with mobile devices by spring 2020.

 

 

 

Chief Superintendent George Macdonald, Highland and Islands divisional commander, said: "The introduction of mobile technology is a major milestone which will positively enhance the operational policing approach in the Highland and Islands."

 

 

 

"Over the last two years, we have seen a significant investment and upgrade in our IT systems to enable us to take advantage of technology.

 

 

 

"Given the geography of the area, officers do incur significant travel time between calls and their stations. The mobile device will allow officers to be more visible in the community, spend more time on patrol and hopefully be more accessible within the areas they serve.