Mobile handsets are helping police to work more efficiently and spend more time on the beat.
Sixty seven BlackBerry devices are being used by neighbourhood policing teams (NPTs) across Wigan borough to take photos of suspects, record antisocial behaviour and speed up stop and search procedures.
The devices will also allow officers to carry out quick checks on the Police National Computer without going back to the police station, which means they are spending more time on the streets where people want to see them.
Inspector Anne Scott of the Hindley NPT said: "We always try to use technology if it improves the service we give the public, and these handsets enable us to perform certain duties more quickly. This gives us extra time to carry out high-profile patrols to reassure communities and deter criminals.
"In addition, the handsets came at no cost to us as they were provided by the National Policing Improvement Agency. This should reassure the public that we are not spending money unnecessarily in these difficult times."
PC Jeff Clayton, who covers Hindley town centre, used his BlackBerry recently to help a resident who claimed some conifers had been stolen from his garden. A neighbour had taken down the registration number of a car thought to be involved, and PC Clayton quickly found the name and address of the owner by entering the details on his handset.
When he arrived at the address he saw some newly planted conifers in the garden, and used the camera on his BlackBerry to take pictures. It was then confirmed that these were the stolen trees and a man was convicted for the offence.
PC Clayton said: "By using my BlackBerry I saved valuable time, as I used the device while I was out on patrol to quickly access the driver's details and obtain photographic evidence. It was also far more convenient for the victim to identify the conifers on my handset rather than having to go to the offender's home, and I believe mobile technology like this can improve our level of service."
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