Under the three-year agreement, Cable & Wireless will collaborate with the police force’s own system to provide instant information to police officers on patrol. Cable & Wireless’ managed system includes both software and hardware, and works on handheld devices.

Instant access to information will enable police officers to use their mobile computers to update information on criminal records immediately. This will also reduce the time they have to spend in the office to complete the administrative work.

As the package is available through the existing PNN3 (Police National Network) framework, forces do not have to issue separate tenders for the service. PNN3 is an exclusive framework arrangement to offer a range of voice, secure data and other services to police forces in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. PNN3 enables Cable & Wireless to deliver an integrated national, regional and local information-sharing and intelligence capability.

Cable & Wireless provides managed voice, data, video, internet and hosting services to all police forces in the UK under the PNN Framework Arrangement.

Jim Marsh, CEO of Cable & Wireless, said: This contract is an extension to the services we already provide to police forces in the UK and we’re proud to continue providing innovative new solutions to police on the beat. Our mobile information solution fully meets the current requirements of the police service and is available to police forces today.

The Home Office has sanctioned £50m capital investment for the NPIA after the Prime Minister announced in 2007 that the police force would be equipped with 10,000 handheld computers within one year.