Police officers across Tayside have been given mobile devices to allow them to spend more time on the streets.
The devices allow officers to take statements and access the national computer while on the beat, removing the need for them to take time to return to the police station and maintaining their public visibility.
The devices are being piloted in Tayside at the moment but it is planned to roll out a total of 10,000 across Scotland by spring 2020 as part of a £21 million project.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf was at Dundee’s Bell Street police headquarters to announce the launch.
He said: “These are a game changer and they will change the way that we work.
“The Scottish Government has to listen to police officers who are on the ground about what they need.
“I am pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to help Police Scotland invest in this new technology, which will enable officers to work in the heart of Scotland’s communities, providing reassurance and increasing their visibility.
“By utilising updated technology, Scotland’s police service can become even more agile and responsive, ensuring they are better-equipped to meet the demands of a modern Scotland.
“Being able to access information at their fingertips will enhance officers’ ability to react quickly to issues that they encounter while out on the beat, keeping people safe.”
Tayside was chosen as the pilot zone as it has both urban and rural areas and will fully test the device’s connectivity to the main police system.
Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr said: “The introduction of mobile technology is a major milestone which will positively change the operational policing approach in Scotland.
“Until now, our officers have been using paper notebooks to record information and crimes and have then been wasting time travelling back to their stations to type that into a computer.
“Giving them mobile phones will make them more visible in the communities they serve.
“It’s the start of our work to equip officers with the tools they need to do their jobs and to transform Police Scotland into an organisation capable of delivering 21st century policing, but there’s much more that we still need to do.”
