§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department is giving in order to improve police communications systems. [48417]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP) is intended to replace all radio infrastructures for the police service with the new generation of digital radio communication systems from 1999 onwards. The project is being managed by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), which became a Non-Department Public Body in April this year. Under the PSRCP, a national co-ordinated approach is being taken to the planning, design and implementation of the new communications systems, and PITO has been supporting all police forces in England and Wales to achieve this. This next generation of communications systems will utilise new radio spectrum we have secured for the service which will overcome many of the current 59W operational difficulties, including radio interference within existing bands. A Business Case for the implementation of the project will be completed this year, and a decision taken on whether to proceed.
PITO is also responsible for managing the contract for the Police National Network (PNN), the police service's own national data and telephony communications network. The Organisation is in the process of procuring a second generation PNN which will be available by summer 1999. The new service will build on the success of the existing network and will offer the next generation of telecommunications infrastructure for policing, criminal justice and public safety throughout the United Kingdom. It is envisaged that it will offer the latest intranet features and will incorporate the Emergency Communications Network.