QR codes help local officers set priorities in response to community concerns

Did you know that your local policing team officers use QR codes to help record their responses to community concerns when out on patrol?

The initiative, which started in Cannock and South Staffordshire, sees local policing teams use the technology to ensure they respond to any issues recorded in their local area. 

Every day, sergeants in these areas hold briefings with constables on intelligence received overnight, and this forms part of a daily patrol strategy set by commanders, in line with priorities identified by our problem-solvers. 

Once PCs are set to patrol these highlighted areas, they use the QR codes on their briefing documents to record what they’ve seen, heard and who they’ve interacted with, as part of their patrols. 

These patrol areas, are mandatory patrol routes set each day for officers to record any engagement, stop-and-searches and arrests that they carry out as part of their work. 

The QR codes feed into spreadsheets which enable officers and problem solvers to further analyse local intelligence and highlight areas of concern, as well as review any emerging local crime patterns.

The project, which was spearheaded by Inspector Lee Walker of Cannock LPT, has so far seen a number of positive results. 

Inspector Walker said: “By using the QR codes on our daily briefings, we have been able to build real-time pictures of what issues are being faced by our communities and ensure that local officers on the ground respond with a visible presence to reassure the public. 

“Information that feeds into our briefings include any calls from members of the public, any reported recent incidents and any intelligence from our problem-solving staff. 

“Once an officer is in an area they are able to record what they see, hear and learn about the area, including any action taken and any further information gathered. 

“It means we are able to provide vital evidence on what is affecting people in the local area and use this to tackle issues promptly; always being accountable for the work we do.

“It’s been a real team effort and has helped us not only tackle anti-social behaviour but also engage with our communities effectively.” 

The mandatory patrols are just one of the ways we use intelligence and data to drive our policing response. 

To find out more about policing in your area, visit our website: Home | Staffordshire Police.

To make a report, call us on 101, use Livechat on our website or call 999 in an emergency.