Nuclear police to get secure radio network

The UK's nuclear police is set to ditch its old analogue radio communications system in favour of 02's Airwave digital radio product in a five-year deal.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary (UKAEAC) claims the switch will deliver better security, greater radio coverage and interoperability with forces across the country. It is expected to take 18 months to roll out the network and the first officers are set to use Airwave early in 2004. The value of the deal was not revealed.

UKAEAC has around 500 officers and is responsible for the protection of nuclear material in situ and in transit.

Airwave is currently being rolled out to the UK's police forces as part of government plans to improve communications between all the emergency services with a single standard radio system.

Patrick Crossan, Deputy Chief Constable of the UKAEAC, said in a statement that Airwave will be a major enhancement to the force.

"Because Airwave is being introduced to all police forces it presents us with a major opportunity to interoperate with any force in a more sophisticated and streamlined way," he said. "It also gives us greater scope to set up specific talk groups for our specialist units. Encryption is also a major plus - at the moment we communicate using codes and, whilst effective, this can be restrictive." Crossan said the force will make use of data transmission applications in the future for activities such as name and vehicle checks.

Health concerns raised by some police officers over the Airwave Terrestrial Trunked Radio (Tetra) handsets last year forced the Home Office to set up a group to monitor the effects of the handsets on the brain. 02 and the handset manufacturers deny there are any health risks associated with its usage.