A NORTH-EAST police force is set to boost its digital presence after securing £350,000 of Government funding.

Cleveland Police will use the money to help install wifi into its buildings and vehicles to enable officers to access information quickly.

The funding is part of a £3m cash injection from Home Secretary Theresa May’s office to nine forces across the country to enable them to invest in digital technology.

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Spittal said: “Cleveland Police is delighted with the award which will allow us to deliver and further expand our new mobile working IT solution.

"Mobile working will enable officers and staff to do more whilst away from the office, reducing the need to return to police stations, thereby increasing visibility and their accessibility to members of our communities.”

Access to the WiFi network will enable officers to receive and check information from the police computer network with greater speed and ease.

And Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger added: “This investment in technology will also broaden our ability to work closely with partner agencies, further strengthening our ability to protect communities from harm.”

The Met is expected to invest their £400,000 share of the money in buying tablets and phones to enable them to capture crime data and take evidential photographs.