Windows Phone Thoughts: Lancashire Police Launch Large Mobile Data Service Trial

"O2 Airwave and Lancashire Constabulary have launched what is thought to be one of the UK's largest ever police handheld mobile data trials. Some 250 police officers and 30 support staff - the entire Lancashire Central Division - will be equipped with O2 Xda II Pocket PC from which they can access a host of information sources. In a pre-trial, the process of a missing person report was reduced from two hours to 20 minutes. It is hoped that access to mobile data will enable officers to be more efficient and effective, including spending around an hour per shift longer in the community rather than at the police station."

Geekzone report that a previous trial of the system had 30 officers successfully using the system for 6 months. If this larger six month trial is successful, then the system will be deployed to over 1,500 users throughout the force. Hopefully this will be another instance whereby technology fulfils its promise to free people up to do their job more effectively. Do not underestimate the power of (wireless) Data on you side and no puns about the long (Strong)Arm of the Law please. ;-)