He wants police to be equipped with modern computers to cut paperwork and let them get back to operational duties, but knows that in fact some police use their own computers to avoid the obsolete systems in suburban stations. For years the force sacrificed office equipment upgrades in order to put money into operational areas. Rebuilding cannot now be done without massive financial pain. Mr Comrie said the new technology would result in police spending more time on operational duties and less on paperwork. But police are now subjected to stringent financial controls, and some senior officers argue the level of accountabiltiy has led to too much time being taken on paperwork.
Some areas feel more pressure than others.
Some specialist crime squads are believed to have taken a 12per cent budget cut this financial year. An internal review will almost certainly result in the amalgamation of some squads early next year. While senior police will argue they are responding to new crime trends, one major reason will be to save money. Some detectives feel the lack of money is cutting into investigations. Detectives in the serious crime squads are paid an annual allowance equal to about 100 hours of overtime but they routinely work up to 600 hours of overtime for free.