The Metropolitan Police are embracing mobile technology, with 500 officers making use of iPad minis with specially developed apps aimed at reducing paperwork and giving officers access to information on the move.

The tablets and software were provided by Vodafone, which is also ensuring 4G connectivity and secure device management for the trial. The officers have been using the tablets since last summer and the Met is aiming to extend the trial after it has proved successful.

The project is part of the Mets Total Technology initiative which is hoping to direct a transformation in how the police service uses technology, in the aid of cutting crime, increasing efficiency and boosting public confidence.

“There is a huge opportunity for technology to transform policing, and this trial with Vodafone UK is a fantastic example of the Met making the best use of technology to deliver services to the public in new and innovative ways,” said Superintendent Adrian Hutchinson, head of mobility planning for the Metropolitan Police Service.

The tablets make use of specially developed apps that enable officers to securely access and update systems and databases wherever they are, letting them work on paperwork on the go and stay visible on the streets of London.

It also enables officers to collect electronic witness statements and digital signatures at the scene of crimes, so victims of crime no longer need to attend the station at a later time.

“We want officers out on the beat, not stuck in the station filling out paperwork or say at a computer,” said Superintendent Hutchinson. “Working with Vodafone UK to deliver phase one of the project, weve already had a great response from officers who have used the devices and we are confident that the project will help them to be more visible to the public and ultimately deliver a better service to Londoners.”