Chief Constable Nick Gargan, Chief Executive of the NPIA, said: We welcome the report which makes recommendations for improvement. We will ensure they are taken seriously and inform our future work.

We are pleased to see the report acknowledges the important role the NPIA played in helping forces deliver over 40,000 mobile devices ahead of schedule and within budget.

Under the direction of the Home Office, ACPO and APA, the NPIA met its objective, set by the Government in 2007, to work with forces to deliver mobile technology to reduce bureaucracy and free up officers’ time. This was a significant achievement by the police service which was praised by the then government and later by the National Audit Office, following an audit of the agency’s Mobile Information Programme.

Feedback from forces using the devices on a daily basis has been very positive. As well as enabling frontline officers to spend more time on the beat they also give officers on-the-spot access to critical information systems which has helped forces to better protect the public and bring offenders to justice quicker.

Although the NPIA was not responsible for mandating forces in the way they implemented the mobile devices, we have supported them to get the most out of the new technology by transferring specialist knowledge and skills. This is helping forces to achieve greater savings in the future.

Notes to Editors

Notes to editors Norfolk Constabulary announced this week how their officers are getting the most out of mobile technology.