Police sirens

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 16

Police sirens

Sir, —A recent incident in which Transport Department cars used their sirens to escort armed offenders squad policemen to Amberley prompts me to ask: “When is the Police Department going to institute a system of police sirens for their vehicles?” Various commissioners have said the problem is to get an effective distinctive warning device. Surely, a siren, whatever the sound, is more likely to clear traffic in its path, than the present set-up of flashing red lights. “Rightthinking” citizens at peak periods might give way to a siren but have no time to notice flashing lights.—Yours, etc.,

M. O’NEILL. October 10. 1970.

[The Minister of Police (Mr Thomson) replies: “The Police Department has just concluded tests with two types of warning devices. One of these, an alternating air horn of the type used extensively by the police throughout the United Kingdom and manufactured in Europe, impressed the department to the extent that a decision was taken to order a small quantity of these units to extend the trials over a wider field. However, on making inquiries from the agents, the department was informed that manufacture has been discontinued. It is now intended to make additional inquiries for a similar type of device from other sources.”]