POLICE officers in Cumbria will soon be armed with state-of-the-art handheld computers to aid them in the fight against crime.

Cumbria Constabulary is one of 25 polices forces in the UK to benefit from the £30 million bureaucracy-busting devices, which have been designed improve efficiency by allowing officers to send and receive information while on the beat.

The technology could save officers up to 30 minutes per shift –meaning less time in the station and more time on the streets.

“This is great news for Cumbria Constabulary,” said Chief Constable Craig Mackey of Cumbria Constabulary. “Mobile computers are a critical tool for a modern police officer, providing them with access to databases such as the Police National Computer and the command and control and intelligence systems while out on patrol.

They will also enable officers to spend less time returning to the station and more time out on the streets, increasing their visibility in the community and providing reassurance to the public.”

The technology is being provided by the National Policing Improvement Agency in a bid to reduce red tape.