Police made sixty arrests at last weekend's V Festival using new mobile crime busting technology.

While visitors enjoyed live performances from leading music bands, Staffordshire police officers equipped with mobile devices accessed the Police National Computer records to identify criminals preying on festival goers.

CCTV cameras around the Weston Park site sent still images to officers on the ground, helping them to pick out suspected drug dealers and robbers in the crowd.

'Unfortunately, large gatherings of people can attract some criminal activity,' said Ian De Soyza, project manager at Staffordshire Police.

'Although CCTV cameras have been used to monitor the festival for some years, this was the first time they had been linked to mobile devices.'

Staffordshire Police worked with Orange Business Solutions, NDI Technologies and HomeNet Communications to develop the system.

'It really does save vital time otherwise spent describing somebody over the radio, during which the suspect might have disappeared into the crowd,' he said.

A range of technologies, including Orange SPV smartphones, Panasonic Toughbooks and HP 1450s were used by police to access images and data across Orange's GPRS network.

What do you think? Email feedback@computing.co.uk

If you want to be first with the news, visit Computing every day.