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Victims of crime in Lincolnshire will now have the option to speak to officers via video link as part of a new initiative to deliver a more flexible service to the public.
The Lincolnshire Police initiative is designed for when there is no immediate threat which requires an officer to attend. It enables people to have a live video conversation with an officer, who will conduct enquires and take statements.
The new Enhanced Video Response Team (EVR) is made up of 10 officers, four members of police staff and two sergeants and will initially focus on incidents in the East Lindsey district. Lincolnshire Police said the EVR team does not replace home visits, or any other existing functions provided by the force, rather it gives people the chance to engage with officers in a more convenient way.
Initially operating out of Louth and Gainsborough, the service will eventually cover the entire county, enabling members of the public to contact the force more quickly, while at the same time freeing up frontline officers to attend more serious incidents.
Dorset Police pioneered the approach, which has since been adopted by a number of forces, in 2024 and have seen an overwhelmingly positive response. Indeed, around nine in 10 people would recommend the service to others.
“Technology is always evolving, and we recognise people now want faster, more convenient ways to engage with the force.
“This new team, and the technology it will leverage, will allow us to conduct our enquiries more quickly and deliver a quality service to the public at a greater pace.
“This EVR approach has already been rolled out across various other forces and we are confident it will bring value to Lincolnshire.”
Assistant Chief Constable Nicola Mayo.
Individuals must be over the age of 18 to opt into the virtual response service or be with a parent or guardian. They must have a smartphone or tablet with video and 4G or Wi-Fi capability – the offender cannot be present either.
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