Radios On The Beat

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32233, 27 February 1970, Page 14

Radios On The Beat

The first of the new light - weight two - way radios for beat constables are expected in New ‘ Zealand within two ; months. , The Commissioner of Police i (Mr G. C. Urquhart) said , that in 1969 the police were ■authorised to begin introduc- : ing personal portable radios . throughout New Zealand. Orders were placed for 230 portable transceivers and a

e number of base stations and " battery chargers. The successful tender for the transceivers it was an English company e Without battery or case, the y portable weighs about lib. A e large capacity battery weighing about 11b will be used. About 30 of the sets will be e in New Zealand in twc months and another 150 are e expected in August. The base stations and battery chargers are being made in New Zea a land. X The transceivers will run on three channels and will J. be capable of carrying mesn sages from one beat constable to another or of relaying n through the base station, r-i “Initially, experiments will o be necesary to determine the

most effective means of using this equipment but there is I no doubt that police use of ■ personal portables will improve efficiency,” said Mr Urquhart. , The police see the light-! weight tranceiver as being ! useful among crowds, for l !team policing where a ser-i geant and a number of con-1

’ stables can do out beat duty si after having arrived in the Fl area in a car and for rapid -1 comm unication bet ween r I police surrounding an area ; where it is believed an offence - i has been committed. [I They will work on different; - channels from those at pre-! -i sent used for radios in cars -land stations. i