BlackBerrys for coppers: UK law enforcement to smarten up in 2010
Police men and women of Blighty are about to step into the 21st century, albeit a decade late, with a new weapon in the fight against boredom on the beat. The BBC reports that smartphones will become standard issue throughout the Queen's realm by March 2010, as a result of successful trials carried out in 30 constabularies through this year. Improved "operational efficiency" and reduced bureaucracy are argued as the key benefits, with a solid 30 minutes less time being spent in police stations each day. And we're absolutely positive that extra half hour will go toward increased "visibility in the community" and not checking out friends' Facebook status updates. No, really!
Read -- BBC report
Read -- Bedfordshire case study
Read -- BBC report
Read -- Bedfordshire case study


















gotta love the pic
i didn't know kumar was a cop...
"And we're absolutely positive that extra half hour will go toward increased "visibility in the community" and not checking out friends' Facebook status updates. No, really!"
Never heard of BES? They will block apps.
"i didn't know kumar was a cop..."
...and are you going to attempt that "joke" on every picture of South Asian men you see?
I thought UK cops ("bobbies?") couldn't carry firearms . . .
Enlighten this Yank, brothers from across the pond. Are those SWAT guys or what?
@ smart people
Obviously there are some devisions that have to carry firearms, like rapid response units and police based in airports, anti terrorism and that. Standard cops don't although was on the news the other day that alot are now carrying tasers (they need to go through the same firearm training though..)
Hope that helps
A semi helpful Brit
@Smart People
They're most likely stationed near Parliament Square or at an airport or similar high-security area. Some also carry MP5s in rough neighbourhoods.
the further away from London you go, the less likely you are to see cops with guns.
Hell, the further away from London you go the less likely you are to see a cop!
Is the vest for exploding batteries?
Some also carry MP3s in middle-class neighbourhoods.
@arkweld
Haha so true - up here in Edinburgh we don't have police any more, they've all been replaced by community support officers :P
4 UK cops and no beer-bellies? I call it fake (the original I mean).
Oh and that's it a manufactured PR shot is also shown by the composition with a woman and an 'asian' (as the brits call them) guy,
It's like the cast of an american TV show.
Hot Fuzz
Just because you give them business mobile phones doesn´t mean they´ll suddenly become smarter. We´re still talking about the police.
BrickBreaker tournaments?
But we're not talking about America, so...
I'll just have to carry around a portable cell phone blocker wherever I go.
Brit cops are every bit as stupid as US cops I gather, or worse even in some areas.
They're looking fab
In yorkshire they already use them.
And I had the pleasure of being on the project that rolled them out in West Yorkshire, and helped consult dozens of other forces. They are a valuable tool and if you ask any bobby on the beat if they would rather be at their desk doing paper work or on the front line making effective use of technology I know which wins hands down.
they have these in baltimore
How am I suppose to respect their authority when their hats are ridiculous. Oh, and where's the apple troll saying they should use the iPhone? "I'm a cop..." "My iPhone has an app for that"
When you use an iPhone you get a secret power .... you lick the screen three times, pray to Jobs, and become iTroll !!!!! Then, you can destroy everything on your way with Radioactive Nagging, Shattering Trolling and Hype Fever.
Thief: Dude, just take me to jail, I promise I won't do it again.... Please just don't tell me how great your iPhone is and how many applications it has... nooo..noooOOOOOOooooo
iPhone Cop: Sorry, Timmy, Justice needs to be served. It all started when our superior Leader invented the touch screen, the smartphone, 3G and saved AT&T and our lives from the null void ........
Thief: Why meeee.... NoooOOoooo
Hey, I ain't done nuthin'
Right here
Grunt, in a dazzling display of irony, you have become that troll.
RESPECT THE BADGE!
HE EARNED IT WITH HIS BLOOD!
I AM THE LAW!
\m/
Don't iPhone me bro!
nice guns
This is great! Now they can spend their days smsing like tweens.
> watcha doin?
< nthng
> dnut?
< k
... wouldn't HTC Heroes be a much better fit though? i mean w/ them waving the MP5 like that in the street...
GIVE BRIT COPS GUNS!!!
Every**
No - they don't need them and it sends the wrong message.
That message being - "I'm armed and will shoot back."
But I agree. Since no one in Britton has a gun, why do the police need them?
Oh that's right, criminals don't follow silly things like laws.
We would only have to give cops guns if they were sold wholesale from supermarkets, and we all know how much of a stupid idea that is.
Gives the wrong message? My dad is in the armed forces, a few years back they were told they aren't allowed to wear balaclavas or snoods that cover too much of the face becasue they look too intimidating.
Britain is too soft.
@Kelmon and Major4Play
Suppose you live out in the British countryside, someone breaks into your house and you lock yourself in your room and call the police. They might be there in 15-20 minutes, maybe more. No one knows if the person is armed or not. You don't have a gun to defend yourself and neither do the police? Do you talk them into leaving with some liberal hippie In Case of Emergency letter the government supplies you that you tuck away in your nightstand for such an emergency? Which reads:
Dear Sir or Madam(god forbid we're not PC, women can be criminals too!)
Please vacate my premises as you are breaking the law. Please take whatever goods, but please don't kill me. I am a liberal atheist, as you probably are, as is the majority of England. Which if you think about it logically would make us want to do more to protect ourselves from being killed since we don't believe in an afterlife. However we still look down our noses at keeping a firearm safely in the home in case of such emergencies. If you do decide to break in to my bedroom I will be forced to do one of two things.
1. Curl up into a fetal position, and wish an American with a gun was here to protect me. (cough)WWII(cough)
2. Grow a pair, grab a fire poker or other hard metal object, and bludgeon you to death. Which would be a far more violent and brutal way to end your existence than shooting you, or better yet just point the gun at you, in which case you would turn around and run for your tea-sipping life. Please consider this carefully and good day to you Sir or madam.
Sincerely,
Brit in need of clean underwear
"wish an American with a gun was here to protect me. (cough)WWII(cough)"
What was it, 6 American pilots that fought in the Battle of Britain? I'm sure they protected us single handedly and were the reason operation Sealion was put on hold indefinitely.
Get a clue.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the airwaves
Britons never, never, never shall be Apple slaves.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule with the Pearl
Britons never, never, never shall be iPhone crazed.
They will go after the bonzos with full force. My turn.
"Tweet tweet, its da sound of da police."
The rules are you take the hint, but don't ruin it totally for everyone else.
Is that a woman in the middle?
But of course, she is. She has a different tie than the rest. The tie matches the quad band on the hat. She has the facial features of a woman.
That's no woman, it's a man baby, yeah!
(Sorry I couldn't resist it!)
^^^ Yep, and ethnic minorities and women in the force do exist in our country you know. We don't live in castles and speak with super posh accents, that's only a fraction of the population. Curry and balti is the local dish here too, not fish and chips. Just come to Birmingham/Bradford/Leicester and you'll see for yourself
lol, chill man, I meant that it looks more like she's a man :)
Correct. To add: Not every Briton has bad teeth, loves soccer, or drinks tea at 3 PM. And also, the sun does come out and it is quiet pleasing. :D
Stop dispelling the myth - how do you think we attract tourists?