All Metropolitan Police officers are to be issued with a work smartphone to help crack down on misconduct and improve access to technology, it was reported on Wednesday.
New Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who took over last week, is determined to root out misogynistic, racist and homophobic behaviour that blighted the tenure of his predecessor Dame Cressida Dick.
The Times said the phones will be handed out before December under the initiative.
The Met has a total of 33,843 police officers. Until now thousands have often had to use their own mobiles to communicate with each other, conduct basic investigations and collect evidence, such as video.
A Met spokesman said on Wednesday morning access to technology had been discussed internally but did not dispute the report.
However, sources told the Times the move had a dual purpose of allowing senior managers to keep an eye on what the rank and file were up to with devices monitored for evidence of corrupt behaviour.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Met Police Federation, described the rollout as “completely positive”.
He said: “The cost [of using devices] should not be borne by the employee.
“This is moving the Met into the modern age of 2022, [it] will give officers direct access and the ability to keep in touch.”
Mr Marsh added that officers should be fully aware that the phones were not their property, meaning that they can be accessed and checked, but said he was committed to “complete transparency” and did not see a problem with that.
In a series of scandals, Dame Cressida was forced to resign after it emerged police officers at Charing Cross police station shared appalling messages on WhatsApp.
In his first recorded message to every one of the Met’s 43,000 workers - including police staff, community support officers and specials - Sir Mark, 57, last week warned that the force had been “too weak” in removing a minority of corrupt police.
He vowed to be “ruthless” against them and said his mission for the force is “more trust, less crime, higher standards”.
