Police officers are about to get their hands on handheld computers aimed at getting them out of the station and back on the beat.

About 300 BlackBerrys will be handed out to neighbourhood officers and PCSOs in Oxfordshire over the next three weeks.

Police hope the initiative, costing more than £750,000, will increase the number of hours officers spend on the beat.

The machines will mean officers can check a suspect photo database, carry out vehicle and identity checks and view missing persons reports without returning to the station or using the radio.

They can also read emails, send text messages and receive updates and briefings from senior officers.

Pc Richard Conner, Woodstock neighbourhood specialist, took part in the trials last year.

He said: "The trial worked really well and makes it easier for officers to do their work out and about rather than being stuck in an office or using radio airtime.

"But not only will it keep us out on the beat it will also allow officers to carry out so many more vehicle checks and people checks because we'll have the devices in front of us and find out straight away."

Almost 100 neighbourhood officers across west Oxfordshire took part in the trials using the devices in Woodstock, Eynsham, Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton.

PCSO Lori Hale, of the Witney neighbourhood team, said: "We spend up to 80 per cent of our time on the streets engaging with communities so we have very little time to sit at a computer or do paperwork in the office.

"The BlackBerry will fit in well because it will allow me to get photos and other information about vandalism or anti-social behaviour right from the computer while I am patrolling the streets.

"As a result, I will be able to stay out patrolling for longer."

The new BlackBerrys are costing £792,000 and will be funded by the National Policing Improvement Agency.

A new extra-strong belt clip will be added to the police officer's current kit to hold the BlackBerry in place.

Police officer's former mobile phones will be wiped and sent to users in developing countries.

Thames Valley Police is among the first forces in the country to get the BlackBerrys.

More than £50m is being spent on providing mobile devices for police officers across the country.

Officers in Witney will be the first to get the new devices on Tuesday, followed by Oxford on Wednesday and Wallingford on Thursday. Police in Wantage and Abingdon will take delivery of theirs at the end of June.