London UK – 3rd November, 2014 – Samsung Electronics today announced that it has partnered with West Yorkshire Police to help the force lead the way in one of the biggest technological advancements in modern policing.

4,000 Samsung Galaxy Note 3 devices are being issued to front line officers and staff, replacing traditional pocket note books. The mobile devices contain online ‘apps’ which allow officers to record a crime without having to return to a station, reducing admin and spending more time on the front line.

West Yorkshire Police, Assistant Chief Constable, Andy Battle said it means more time spent in communities:

“This initiative will exploit technology to maximise the capability and effectiveness of policing at the front-line. It will potentially lead to 7,000 front line officers and staff using the devices. As a result of this project, there will be an increase in the amount of time they are able to spend on the streets, dealing with crime and public safety. The device includes an e-notebook which will enable us to record information and make intelligence submissions via secure mobile police apps.

Officers will be able to enter electronic witness statements and complete missing person forms without having to put pen to paper back at base. Similarly, the device will allow users to view and update incidents whilst on the beat, increasing our visibility, responsiveness and presence on the streets.

According to a national audit conducted in 2012 which looked at mobile working in policing across the UK, an average of 18 minutes of additional time on the streets was generated. From a West Yorkshire perspective, one minute of extra time on the street per officer, per day equates to a million pounds worth of additional policing annually.”

This is a good use of technology and providing the Note 3 phones don’t break too often this could be a success