The Home Office and British Telecom are pressing ahead with the
£2.9bn rollout of the Airwave digital radio service to every police
force in the UK despite technical difficulties during trials, which
have just ended.
A three-month pilot by Lancashire police was extended to six months
after problems with voice clarity and coverage occurred.
Lancashire Constabulary told CW360 that a fix list of "30-odd"
problems had been drawn up during the trial.
"In some geographical areas there were cases of calls being dropped
as well as the appearance of screeching sounds - called 'spiking' -
and 'metal Mickey' voice distortion. BT and Motorola are now
working to sort them out," a police spokeswoman said.
The Airwave system's Terrestrial Trunked Radio (Tetra) digital
handsets have also caused fears over health risks to officers using
them.
The Police Federation has called for more research into these
risks. Guidelines suggest that wavebands above 16Hz should be
avoided, but the Airwave handsets operate at 17.6Hz.
However, the Police IT Organisation (PITO) - the Home Office's
national police IT coordinating body - has insisted that the figure
of 16Hz is merely a guideline and that the handsets are safe.
Greater Manchester Police will be the next force to take up
Airwave. Every force in the UK is expected to be using the system
by 2005, when the government will withdraw existing police radio
frequencies.
Lancashire Police said they are already experiencing the benefit of
the new radio voice and data service.
Encryption means that, for the first time, police have secure
transmissions and sound clarity, and coverage is generally better
than the old systems.
"Officers who in the past had to radio to their base and request a
check on the Police National Computer and then wait for the
information can now do it direct on their handsets," said the
Lancashire police spokeswoman. "It allows officers to be more
efficient and time-effective and will result in more officers being
visible on the streets."
BT is responsible for building and managing the national service
throughout its 15-year, £2.9bn contract, with Motorola the main
sub-contractor for the supply of Tetra digital system
infrastructure.
BT Quadrant general manager Jeff Parris said: "We're delighted that
the Lancashire trial has measured up to our expectations. We look
forward to progressing with the roll-out to deliver a world-class
service to Britain's police and public safety organisations."