PATROLLING the remote shores and quiet villages of one of Scotland's most picturesque regions may be a dream come true but it does have drawbacks.
As the officers of Northern Constabulary will tell you, having to go back to the station to be briefed on details of the latest crime or missing person can be hugely time-consuming.
And so, as a result, the men and women of Britain's farthest-flun
g force have become the first in the UK to benefit from the latest in computer technology.
Now they can receive up-to-date information on suspects, offences or stolen vehicles – as well as CCTV images and electoral roll information – direct to their radio handset as they are out on the beat, removing the need for them to return to base when anything develops.
They can also have direct access to the DVLA database, making roadside checks on motorists swifter and simpler.
One officer said: "This idea is great for everyone but especially for the officers who work in out-of-the-way places. It can be a nuisance having to go back to the station, which in some cases can take over an hour, just to get a snippet of information.
"Many times, those details relate to an incident that has happened in an area where the officer was in the first place."
Called Images Made Available to Groups or Individuals over Networks (Imagin), the new system allows any officer to be contacted wherever they may be in the force area.
The idea is based on the technology that allows web pages to be downloaded to mobile phone handsets.
But because of the nature of the information being passed to the men and women of Northern Constabulary, the system is secure and cannot be intercepted by the public.
The idea is the brainchild of the force's Chief Constable, Ian Latimer, who said it will benefit the whole community and not just his officers.
He added: "The force is proud to be leading the way through the introduction of this new technology for all our officers.
"The Imagin capability will allow us to keep more officers on the streets for longer and negate the need to spend unnecessary time in the office. This will, in turn, help us to offer an improved service to the public."
Latimer added: "The benefits in terms of officer safety cannot be overestimated and our ability to locate missing persons or track down criminals more quickly will only assist us in ensuring we continue to make the Highlands and Islands a safer place to live, work and invest."
Some police forces have previously had access to a limited amount of information being downloaded to their handsets.
But this is the first time that a system has been developed whereby every officer in a single constabulary can download information.
The full article contains 482 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
