by Nisha Chopra

New pioneering technology could mean less paperwork for Kent Police when out on stop and searches.

Software called VoiceForce records details through officers' radios onto a system which then transcribes the data.

The pilot is set to run at the end of November for three months in Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs - places which the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) believes the technology will be put to most use.

The NPIA are working in partnership with Kent Police in testing the new initiative.

Programme manager Gary Cairns said: "Something like defining ethnicity, at the moment there's 17 different entries officers can choose - but with this they can talk naturally and it'll match against a small dictionary to pick up the relevant entry."

He added: "This will allow them to talk to a voice dictation which will transcribe what they're saying rather than filling in forms. This saves time and reduces the unnecessary bureaucracy."

If the trials are successful the software could be rolled out to forces across the country, but if it fails there is a backup - as all details of stop and searches are recorded and saved.

Mr Cairns added: "A key part of this ties in with what the Home Secretary did by changing the rules to reduce the number of items the officer was required to record."