From today (September 9, 2019), the North Rhine-Westphalian police will be equipped with 20,000 smartphones throughout the state. Every operational police officer in the state will then have access to a device and the corresponding specially developed apps. "We are easing the burden on police officers so that they have more time for their actual work: ensuring security and order," said Minister Herbert Reul today in Düsseldorf at the handover of the first batch of devices. The aim is to equip all authorities with smartphones by spring 2020.
For the time being, police officers will have three police-specific programs at their disposal. These are a messenger for communicating with each other, an information app that enables a comparison with the police database and a document scanner that uses artificial intelligence to scan ID cards, driving licenses or vehicle registration plates, for example. Officers also have access to various other apps, such as email, a press portal and the NiNA warning app. The next step will be to enable the complete, digital recording of minor traffic accidents and the identification of people using their fingerprints. "The possibilities for police work are huge. These are real opportunities that we can and must now exploit. In fact, we are now the best-equipped police force in Germany," said Reul.
In total, the state government is investing ten million euros this year and then a further 13 million euros in each subsequent year for the operation of the infrastructure, the data contracts and the maintenance of the smartphones. Particular emphasis was placed on data protection: A large number of security measures have been taken here. Data transmission from the smartphones is encrypted and data is only stored on specially protected servers of the North Rhine-Westphalian police force. "We want our police officers to have the best possible technical support," said the Minister.