New police radio system costs rise

A PLAN to rollout encrypted digital equipment to replace outdated radios police use in country Victoria has been delayed by more than a year and more than doubled in cost.

Concerns have been raised that criminals are monitoring the airwaves to commit crimes when they know officers are busy with other jobs.

A PLAN to rollout encrypted digital equipment to replace outdated radios that police use in country Victoria has been delayed by more than a year and more than doubled in cost.

The planned “delivery date” of August 7, 2017, changed to November 30, 2018, and the cost increased from $14.1 million to $35.5 million, according to a government website.

In 2016 the state government said the new communications system would be rolled out from mid-2017 and would stop criminals taking advantage of the current country police radio network.

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Concerns have been raised that criminals are monitoring the airwaves to commit crimes when they know officers are busy with other jobs.

But the government insists the rollout is on track and the change to cost and delay was because the project was being “increased in scale and scope”.

The state opposition called the project “bungled” and said Victoria Police’s ability to fight crime was compromised.

“Criminals in many parts of country Victoria can currently still listen in on Victoria Police confidential radio communications,” opposition police spokesman Edward O’Donohue said. “Until a fully encrypted digital radio system is available to all country police, their ability to fight crime is compromised.”

The state opposition called the project “bungled” and said Victoria Police’s ability to fight crime was compromised.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said there had been no cost overrun or delay but there has been a significant increase in scope and scale of the project.

“We have expanded the digital radio project to make it bigger and better, delivering not just new mobile and portable digital radios to all regional police, but in-car handsets, vehicle upgrades and a major digital radio network upgrade,” she said.

“This investment is a huge boost to our regional police capability and will help keep our hardworking police safe on the job.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said: “Victoria Police is on track to deliver the digital radio network to regional police by the end of October, with all devices and encryption to be finalised by the end of November 2018.

“The project is being rolled out in stages, with almost half of our regional stations having already received the new digital radios.

“Once complete, the project will provide a digital encrypted radio network with enhanced voice clarity, greater portable coverage and GPS enabled duress which is capable of operating in metropolitan and rural areas.”

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