Police announce 'radical' digital overhaul

Update aimed at slashing red tape

'Freeing our people to deliver quality policing'; that's the central gambit of a new strategy by the Isle of Man Constabulary aimed at reducing administrative red tape, and increasing the amount of officers on the beat.

The programme, announced by the Department of Home Affairs this morning, could see officers equipped with body cameras, mobile speed guns and even drones in the near future.

Almost 20 databases and computer systems are to be scrapped in favour of a single, integrated software model - which developer Northgate Public Services says will streamline case management, surveillance, intelligence and forensics.

The force will become the thirteenth in Britain to undertake such a digital overhaul.

Chief Constable Gary Roberts hopes it will equip officers to 'deal with modern demands and sophisticated criminals', using the latest technology to 'predict, respond to and ultimately prevent crime'.