HC Deb 24 July 2002 vol 389 c1470W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department issues to police authorities on the need to ensure interoperability of radio systems with other emergency services. [19702]

Mr. John Denham

Interoperability between emergency services is, at present, arranged locally by each force and the Home Office provides the radio channels necessary for communication between operational commanders at major incidents. Full interoperability is one of the potential operational benefits of Airwave, the new police radio communications service. The other emergency services have the option of either joining the Airwave service or arranging interoperability between their separate networks.

The Home Office is promoting agreement between the three emergency services on the level of interoperability necessary to ensure public safety.