NSW: Police commissioner concedes there s a radio problem

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2000
NSW: Police commissioner concedes there s a radio problem

SYDNEY, April 3 AAP - The New South Wales Police Service faced major radio communications
difficulties but everything was being done to fix the problem, Commissioner Peter Ryan
said today.

The concession came ahead of a top-level summit this afternoon to examine radio blackspots,
involving Deputy Commissioner Ken Moroney, union officials and communications engineers.

Mr Ryan's remarks also followed last Friday's dramatic incident when lone highway patrolman
Fred Kinch was forced to radio seven times for backup after being bashed at the scene
of a random breath test.

"There are problems with the police radio system and we recognise that," Mr Ryan told reporters.

"I recognised it years ago and we've been putting together a case to completely replace
the whole of the radio system in the metropolitan area of NSW, from Newcastle down to
Wollongong.

"That's now ready and we are looking at responses from industry and hopefully come
2001, we'll be in a position to start rolling out the new system."

Asked whether front line police currently felt safe in the field, he said it was difficult
for him to comment.

"I think last Friday's incident was not the result of a blackspot," he said.

"The attack had already taken place before the officer used his radio and it was due
to feedback down the radio, one radio to another.

"There are blackspots throughout the state but you've got to remember phone companies
have spent billions and billions of dollars on mobile phones and we still go out on those
mobile phones."

Senior Constable Kinch is resting at home after receiving serious head and facial injuries
when assaulted by up to three men at south-suburban Campbelltown.

After using capsicum spray to fend off the attack, he fired a single shot from his
service revolver, wounding a 25-year-old man in the stomach.

It then took almost four minutes for radio operators to pinpoint his exact location
when heavy interference rendered his SOS indecipherable.

AAP jk/tsm/pjs/br

KEYWORD: POLICEMAN (CARRIED EARLIER)

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