Wireless technology has in recent weeks helped extend the long arm of the law at events ranging from the Republican National Convention in New York City to a rock concert in Staffordshire, England.

The wireless networks are being used in conjunction with closed-circuit television cameras, which have long been used to send video images that are usually monitored by a command control center at police stations.

In the past, dispatchers had to verbally describe suspects and situations over radio calls. Advances in wireless networks and handsets now allow either portions of the surveillance film or still images taken from the film to be beamed directly to sophisticated mobile phones, personal digital assistants or laptop computers carried by officers or private security guards on the front line.

By Jennifer L. Schenker at IHT.

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