Bedfordshire Police

Business Challenge

• Modern policing in the UK is faced by a unique set of challenges: The demand for greater visibility on the streets, more efficient administrative processes and tighter budgets
• Bedfordshire Police found that the radio network used to connect officers on the beat to colleagues and information back in the station was inefficient for non-emergency communications
• Bedfordshire Police needed a mobile data solution that was user-friendly to ensure that its officers embraced the technology

Solution

• Officers were equipped with BlackBerry® smartphones that allow secure and instant access to data applications, including the National Police Computer
• The devices were deployed with applications that allow officers to carry out administrative duties and reporting on the beat rather than back at the station
• Robust security features, such as the ability to lock or wipe a device immediately over the air if lost or stolen, are built into the devices

Results

• The BlackBerry solution enhances efficiency by allowing officers to access the applications they need on the beat, without having to go back to the station
• Remote access to centralised systems through their BlackBerry smartphones enables officers to spend more time in their communities
• Robust security features have given officers the confidence to use BlackBerry smartphones to their full potential
• BlackBerry smartphones offer a highly intuitive user-interface and Bedfordshire Police found its officers needed very little training to be able to use them