POLICE in Hampshire have been awarded £1.1m from the Home Office Innovation Fund for technological improvements to tackle crime.

The force bid for the money for five separate initiatives and was successful in each of them, receiving the full amount.

Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “I am extremely pleased that we have been awarded £1.1m from the £20m available to be bid for by police forces across England and Wales.

“This amount is clear recognition of our force's growing reputation for innovation and improving policing through maximising the use of modern technology.”

The cash will be used for body-worn video and an integrated business centre to join up with Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service and Hampshire County Council in the areas of finance, human resources, procurement, estate and occupational health Money will also be spent establishing Safer Neighbourhood Team bases and will enable a better system for delivering electronic case files to the Crown Prosecution Service to be implemented.

Cash will also be spent on improving mobile data provision to all officers, including tablet computers which will help officers, staff and PCSOs access all the systems they need while out and about.

Lastly, the force joined with Thames Valley Police to improve customer contact, giving the public more ways to access their services.