Pocket Computers Put Officers 'In The Picture'

Hi-tech pocket-sized computers are helping police officers in West Yorkshire to outwit wanted suspects who try to bluff their way out of being arrested when stopped on the streets.

When officers stop someone they suspect is wanted for an offence, they need to confirm that person’s identity.

Not surprisingly, many of those who are wanted will try to trick their way out of being arrested by providing false details – often those of someone they know, who is not currently wanted by the police.

But now officers issued with BlackBerry handheld devices can instantly download digital “mugshots” of people who are already on police systems to see that the person is not who they say they are. If there is an outstanding warrant for the person it will show on the screen and the officer can access the warrant system. The use of this technology has already led to several arrests.

This la-*test*-('") enhancement to the Force’s use of BlackBerrys is due to the development of a new system dubbed “StreetWYSE”.

Paul Friday, Director of the Force’s Information Systems, said: “In September 2005, we conducted an internal survey to find out what else officers would like from their BlackBerry to aid them in their job. Responses from the survey revealed that officers wanted the BlackBerry to provide them with further intelligence to support street encounters.”

Created by West Yorkshire Police’s IT Department, StreetWYSE is a mobile version of the Force’s main computerised intelligence system known as West Yorkshire Search Engine (WYSE).

WYSE contains everything the Force knows about individuals, in addition to the comprehensive information stored on the Police National Computer.

Besides being able to access images, StreetWYSE on BlackBerry gives officers the ability to discreetly and silently use the device – instead of their radio - to check other vital information on an individual they have stopped, such as whether they are known to carry weapons or be violent to police officers.

West Yorkshire Police currently has 2,500 BlackBerrys in operation – 2,300 of those with frontline officers.

The introduction of the devices has saved the Force an estimated £8.8million, based on the time saved by officers being able to access computer systems while on the streets – an average of 145 hours per frontline officer per year. Training on StreetWYSE takes just a few minutes.

The devices have also given a major boost to the Force’s neighbourhood policing teams by making them even more effective and helping them to spend even more time out working in communities.

Officers can also get their daily briefing information sent to their BlackBerry on email. These contain embedded links to local intelligence such as the division’s “most wanted” so officers can access that person’s records, including their photo, on StreetWYSE by simply clicking on the link.

Future developments of the Force’s use of BlackBerry could see officers on the ground being able to link into traffic cameras and be notified of the approach of a stolen vehicle.

Officers have immediate and mobile access to the Force’s warrants database. This is a completely electronic system that delivers a warrant entered at court directly to the officer on the beat. Officers can also check the la-*test*-('") legal information on the Police National Legal Database - a national resource created and managed by West Yorkshire Police.