BOBBIES in Bromley are among the first in London to have assistants to help them when they are on the beat.

But you will not see someone walking with them because the assistants are digital.

The operational personal digital assistants (PDA) are designed to be used by officers to electronically record, reference and retrieve information while out on patrol.

Using the device they will be able to access the police national computer, the voters database, check the national mobile phone register, get daily briefings about what is going on in the area and log stop and search activities.

They will also be able to record details of fixed penalty notices and road accidents directly on to the system.

Bromley is one of only five boroughs within the Met police to be ialing the PDAs.

So far 90 units have been issued to officers with more due later this year.

Darwin safer neighbourhood team is one of the first teams to be using the devices on its patch.

PC Mark Cockbain from the Darwin Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "This is great news for Bromley police and the communities we serve.

“The new PDAs will mean Bromley officers out on patrol will have essential information at their fingertips, enabling them to do their job more efficiently.

“It will allow officers to spend more time in the community rather then completing reports in police stations - therefore increasing visibility and reassuring the public."