Avon and Somerset Police has spent £12million on laptops and mobile phones so officers spend less time in stations and more on the beat.

The investment will allow them to hot desk in cafes, libraries and community centres to complete their paperwork so they can move more quickly between jobs.

Police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens said greater use of mobile technology has been her dream since she took office and it will put the region’s officers at the forefront of policing.

She added: “I am excited that local people will soon see the impact of this technology in their communities through the accessibility and availability of their police officers.”

Deputy chief constable Sarah Crew said: “In Avon and Somerset we are committed to giving our offers the tools they need to be outstanding at serving the public.

“I know people appreciate a visible police presence in their community, and my hope is that as officers increasingly take their office outside, the public’s confidence will increase.

“The time saved by officers using this new technology will be put back into proactive policing, community engagement and preventative work.”