The Metropolitan Police Service plans to deploy Motorola's MTH800 mobile terminal for its officers to use on the nationwide Tetra communications network, Airwave.

The roll-out aims to allow the UK's largest police force to increase its responsiveness and efficiency while improving officer safety.

It will create over 3,000 'talk groups' aligned to the force's operational units to speed up communication within these groups.

The large, high-definition colour display on the MTH800 enables a range of image types to be displayed, including mug shots, incident views, digital maps and specialised graphics such as force logos.

According to Motorola, future developments of the handset using the Global Positioning System will enable more rapid response to send backup to officers.

"A lot of work has gone into the past eight months with manufacturers to develop and select our next generation of radios and deliver them into service," said Chief Superintendent Peter Goulding, chairman of the Selection Board.

"The Met has worked with manufacturers to push the technology boundaries for radios, ensuring that we can make the most of digital services now and in the future."

The selection process involved police officers and staff from across the organisation covering operational, support and supply departments.

Motorola said that, since it was launched in November 2003, the MTH800 has been chosen by 11 out of 12 UK police forces that have so far awarded contracts in 2004.