[Scan-DC] Police radio talk privacy costs $16m

[Alan Henney]

Hobart Mercury (Australia)

September 15, 2011 Thursday 
1 - Edition

Police radio talk privacy costs $16m

BYLINE: ZARA DAWTREY

SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. 7

LENGTH: 378 words

POLICE will spend $16.3 million on a digital upgrade to their radio network to ensure criminals and the public can no longer listen to sensitive information.

The news comes after the Mercury yesterday revealed Tasmanians could listen to the southern radio network simply by buying a $2 app for their smartphone. 

A Tasmania Police spokeswoman yesterday revealed the project had started and was expected to be completed by next August.

Tasmanians using smartphones can listen to the sensitive police communications by buying the $2 police scanner application online or downloading the free versions.

Personal details such as names, licence numbers and prior offences can readily be heard because Tasmania's police force uses outdated technology.

But CIB operations and the most sensitive communications are already digitally encrypted.

The Police Association of Tasmania has expressed frustration over the time it is taking the department to iron out faults which plagued the digital network and forced police to return to the analogue channels several years ago.

Opposition police spokeswoman Elise Archer yesterday hit out at the State Government, describing the delay in upgrading the network as another example of its incompetence.

``The potential for criminals to be advised of police movements is not only a major concern to police officers, but it places the wider Tasmanian community at risk,'' she said. ``Police services are already stretched to date we have seen the graduate recruitment course axed, police numbers slashed and resources cut.

``This is just another example of Government ineptitude that the police service doesn't need.''

But a Government spokesman said the Department of Police and Emergency Management considered the upgrade a priority and it had made ``a significant investment'' in the network overhaul.

The police spokeswoman said the project had provided two new data centres with new equipment and dispatch terminals.

She said these were being tested and digital communications would be more widely used as a result as early as December.

As of 5pm yesterday 49 users were listening to southern police uniform radio communications.

The scanner applications for

iPhones and Android handsets can be downloaded in seconds from Apple iTunes, or Android Market.