10,000 handhelds for police, says PM

Brown was addressing his first party conference as PM

Prime Minister Gordon Brown says 10,000 hand-held computers are to be
supplied to police forces for use by officers on patrol.

The devices will link to the Police National Computer and allow reports to be filed online.

Brown told delegates at Labour's Bournemouth conference: "I can announce that
we will provide hand-held computers - 1,000 now, by next year 10,000 right
across the country - cutting paper work so that officers can log crimes on the spot, stay on the beat and not waste time returning to the station to fill out forms."

He said police will also be equipped in four cities marred by gun crime with hand-held weapon detectors to be used in stop-and-search operations designed to stop the illegal carrying of firearms.

The Prime Minister also revealed he had called in parenting guru Dr Tanya Byron "to look at how families can make the most of the opportunities new technology gives while doing our duty to protect children from harmful materials ".