The London Assembly has raised concerns over the
readiness of businesses and the emergency services to cope with
another terrorist attack on the London Underground.
A report from the assembly, due out this spring, is expected to
raise questions about the ability of the new
Airwave emergency services radio system to
provide adequate communications in the event of an attack on the
Tube network.
Richard Barnes, chair of the London Assembly's 7th of July
Review Committee, said the group was concerned that Airwave may not
provide 100% coverage in tunnels and stations and its signals may
in some cases be blocked by buildings.
"We will certainly be expressing concern over the Airwave
radios," Barnes said. "Airwave is getting rolled out, but it is not
the 100% coverage that people thought. There are gaps in the
services."
O2 Airwave signed a £115m contract to link the Airwave radio
network to London Underground's digital
Connect radio system in January. It will give UK
police forces Airwave coverage at all 125 belowground Tube
stations.
Barnes said the assembly was concerned that there would be gaps
in the coverage of Airwave in the underground system. There are
also concerns that Airwave signals may be inaccessible in some
buildings, including police stations.
The problems could be solved by investing in more booster
stations, said Barnes, but the government needed to be upfront
about the gaps in the system and decide openly whether it was
prepared to accept a less reliable system for the sake of financial
savings, he said.
"They have to make up their minds, and they have to be upfront
about whether they will accept a weaker system for financial
reasons. It is the sort of clarity that people are entitled to," he
said.
Patrick Mercer, former opposition spokesman for homeland
security, also expressed concerns over the implementation of
Airwave.
"This is a grave area of concern that the very expensive Airwave
system does not work in tunnels and enclosed spaces. It can be made
to work relatively simply and relatively cheaply, but it is
extremely disappointing that there is going to be no instant
surface-to-tunnel communication in the Tube until at least 2008,"
he said.
Rupert Cazalet, head of stakeholder relations for 02 Airwave,
said that the contract with London Underground would provide
emergency services with radio access underground in 2008.
"The Airwave system is piggy backing on the Connect system, so
if there is coverage on the Connect system, there will be coverage
on the Airwave system," he said.
"We are aware there have been reports of insufficient coverage
in buildings. That is something that affects all radio
communications. We are working with the
Metropolitan Police to identify what can be done
to improve coverage in buildings. We are looking to maintain
officer and public safety."
Related article: London Underground links to Airwave
Comment on this article:
computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk