Avon and Somerset Police are spending nearly £2 million to get officers away from repetitive admin tasks and back out on the beat. 

The force is investing in new technology to automate more services in a bid to free up valuable time and cut the risk of human error. 

The move comes a year after it spent £12 million on laptops and smartphones so officers can file reports in the community rather than at the station, cutting the time they spend travelling and boosting their public presence. 

A force spokesman said officers use a complex set of systems and processes. Many are integrated but sometimes data needs to be re-entered from one system to another, taking up valuable time. 

A contract notice said there was “significant potential to automate a large number of processes”, with benefits including potential cost savings, greater levels of consistency, reduction of human error and better quality data. 

The £1.9 million investment signed off by police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens will fund the creation of a process automation centre of excellence.