Police radio success brings its own issues

A police radio system that is now so efficient that finding extra parking places for offenders' cars is now a priority was one of the benefits outlined in a case study of the ongoing development of WAPOL, the West Australian police radio network.

The system allows police on the beat to stop a suspect who may be driving, check vehicle and driver details confirming them via a radio message back to a central database and if necessary arrest the driver on the spot leaving the vehicle to be parked in a secure police pound.

This, said acting superintendent Lance Martin, revealed this unexpected side issue and is creating its own problem for the force.

The success story was one of some 16 case studies or papers that were presented at the 17th Annual Wireless and Mobile Comms conference in Melbourne. The event was presented in association with the International Wireless Communications Expo and organised by IIR Conferences. Radio Comms Asia-Pacific was one of two media partners.

Other topics covered included: using technology to connect remotely with emergency communications systems by Justin Dunlop of the Metropolitan Ambulance service in Victoria; protecting and securing systems in an interoperable environment by Dr Malcolm Shore of Telecom New Zealand; using vehicle tracking systems to safeguard police and improved policing by Superintendent Grant Pitman of the Queensland police; emerging technologies and standards for professional mobile radio solutions by Kevin Lawrance of Tait; and harmonising communications networks with mobile broadband for PPDR applications by Paul Alexander of Cohda Wireless.

Two papers looked at spectrum use issues. One, by Andrew Kerans of the ACMA, reviewed spectrum access while Murray Sadler of Telstra looked at accessing spectrum for effective incident management.

In addition to the presentations there was a series of half-day workshops that, among other toppics, covered staff training for mobile and faster emergency responses, incorporating data and voice over IP to create an interoperable system and a study of RFID fundamentals.