THIS is the first glimpse of Greater Manchester Police's latest hi-tech weapon to fight crime.

It is the first patrol car to be fitted with a computer which will enable officers to check suspects and car number plates in seconds.

Broadband
The new GMP computers will allow officers to carry out checks on suspects via broadband internet instead of asking for information over a radio.

Police will also have on-board cameras to photograph car registrations and quickly check them using the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system, which includes several databases of suspect vehicles.

Revolution
The MEN revealed how the force was undergoing a £10m technological revolution. Front-line officers will get hand-held computers to help them stay out on the beat rather than spending time on paperwork.

On-board computers will be installed in all 800 police cars in the next three years.

Patrol
The first cars will be sent out on patrol in August after undergoing tests.

After the first patrol car was kitted out, Insp Ian Glover said: "We have two concept vehicles being fitted and certainly ergonomically they fit very well on the dashboard. It doesn't look like an extra piece of vehicle furniture. The next step is putting them with the users and getting some feedback from officers on the ground so we can look at adjusting them accordingly."

He added: "We have extensive broadband coverage but we want to make sure we have all the force covered. If we do have areas where there are problems, we have to make contingency plans."

He said efficiencies would be made because the new patrol car would have all its systems controlled in `one box' or computer. At the moment, systems that control the car's lights and other equipment are added separately.