The idea could be introduced to forces across the country

Community support officers in Sheffield are taking part in a trial using hand-held computers to receive instant information from the city's CCTV system.

Officers can obtain pictures from the 150 cameras around the city centre to help them identify suspects, crime scenes and vehicles.

The pictures can then be stored and potentially used to prosecute cases in court.

Nationwide roll-out

If the trial is successful, the technology could be introduced to police forces throughout the country.

CCTV manager Steve Godber said the problem had previously been "the difficulty describing to officers on the street what we can see.

"They haven't had access to the three dimensional image we see in the control room."

Community support officer Richard Cousins believes the system could prove invaluable to frontline officers and said: "It is a vital piece of equipment."