Devon and Cornwall upgrades comms
Devon and Cornwall Police is upgrading the communications technology at
its command and control centres in preparation for the summer and the
onset of millions of visitors to the region.
Devon and Cornwall Police is upgrading the communications technology at its command and control centres in preparation for the summer and the onset of millions of visitors to the region.
The upgrade to the forces software integrated communications control system (SICCS) is part of its 2012 Programme, designed to make the force a leading technologically-capable UK police body.
The SICCS provides Airwave radio, telephony and data integration services to the forces two command and control rooms at Exeter and Plymouth. SICCS is critically important to the forces ability to effectively manage planned events and respond to spontaneous incidents.
The new system part of a five-year contract awarded to Arqiva in November 2009 provides improved integration between the different communication technologies for secure, quick and efficient collaboration between the control rooms and frontline officers.
Tim Bishop, Airwave manager at Devon and Cornwall Police, said: We are intent on providing the best service to both residents and visitors to our counties. Arqivas solution future-proofs our telephony needs, providing us with a robust, secure and stable communications platform that will improve officers responsiveness to situations.
The contract includes a refresh of all hardware and software at two server rooms and the update of 56 work stations with the latest in communications and control software from APD Communications.
The new system will increase communications reliability and improve business continuity, with the SICCS platform integrating with the forces existing and proposed new command and control incident management systems.
It will utilise CT Connect [software that allows computer applications to monitor and control telephone calls] for better, more flexible telephony integration and new Hot Standby TETRA [Terrestrial Trunked Radio] Gateways for resilient data management and transfer.
Once completed, the force will be among the first in the country to have a solution that manages Airwave voice and data in this way.
Installation at the Plymouth control room started last month and is due to be completed early this month.
