Digital transcripts save time

Lancashire Constabulary has moved to digital transcriptions in a bid to reduce red tape and save time.

The new system is based in the WinScribe technology that now enables officers to file reports directly from the crime scene.

This avoids the need to send faxes or other forms of written material.

Richard Allan, Police National Computer and Crime Recording manager at Lancashire said: “The Voice Forms system is extremely easy to use. Up to 30 officers can now dictate into the system concurrently with 15 staff transcribing at any one time.”

Officers dial into the system and respond to 30 prompted questions.

The resulting report is then stored ready for digital transcription.

The savings using the system could be substantial as Home Office figures indicate that officers on average spend 41 per cent of their time preparing paperwork.