I've been hearing about these terminals in cars from a friend of mine who works in CAD. I didn't ask loads of questions about them at the time but since then I've been interested to find out more.

Any MET officers who can reveal what these are all about? Hope this isn't operational info

These are our mobile data terminals (MDT's) They consist of a colour screen (which can be dimmed at night) and a keyboard which clips into the passenger footwell for use by the operator.

These are often very slow in busy periods, sometimes not responding at all which can be a pain.

However, when they do work, they are excellent.

• Good mapping GPS system, works well in the ctiy, 99% of the time accurate.
• CAD can send messages and jobs to car (no need to write job details down, all available on terminal )
• CAD can locate the car (good if you need assistance urgently not so good if you're slipping off for 10 minutes to do some unofficial business)
• Person and vehicle checks possible
• Shows up disqual drivers, but insurance details have to be checked the old way by radioing CAD
• You also can update your status (on patrol, refs, prisoner etc) so you don't get hassled by the CAD room.

Seems like a good idea, do other forces use this as well?

Our force is trialing a mobile PDA but I don't believe it has a GPS facility, Airwave covers the updating of your status and we are looking at GPS for that as well.

I've never heard of another UK force using the same system, and most of the officers from other forces I've spoken to are fairly envious (those essex officers are the worst)... the MET seem to have actually spent taxpayers money well for once,

Our handheld Tetra radios will be upgraded soon and have the ability to do PNC's on as well as status codes.

I like the idea! What is the security risk of people breaking in and accessing info?

America have had them for years so it MUST work!

Yup, we got them in the US. I start at the Sheriff's Office Jan 9th, and soon after I'll get my laptop and will be shown how to use it. I have a friend of mine who works at another Sheriff's Office around here and he showed me his. They are OUTSTANDING tools. Our's allow us to

-lookup criminal histories
-GPS and mapping
-communicate with dispatch
-communicate car to car
-type up and submit reports on computer.
-surf the net (yup, wireless internet access )
-Check all kinds of information

You name it, we have it on our MDT's. They are portable laptops for us.

Sounds good

They wont give them to us cause the know well be on this forum all day long if we have net access

Commish would change all the computers homapges in the cars in his borough to this site lamo

That's not far off the truth... but shhh because if we can access it in future they'll realise it was me !

lol