Lancashire Constabulary – The first digital voice and data application over TETRA Airwave in the UK

The ability to communicate quickly and effectively is vital for any police force, in particular during major incidents. When it came to review the outdated analogue radio system used within the control rooms, Lancashire was selected to trial the new national digital voice and data radio service, Airwave, launched by the Home Office in 2000 and the associated "showcase applications" that were going to be developed.

Lancashire Constabulary was the first force in the UK to use Airwave as the main radio communication scheme force-wide. At the same time, the Force decided to renovate their control centres and improve efficiencies, using an Integrated Communication Control System (ICCS) that was compatible with Airwave.

After tender, Lancashire Constabulary selected APD Communications as the partner of choice to modernise its control room processes. CORTEX™, APD's Integrated Communication Control System, was the first in the market to merge radio despatch, telephone call handling and video monitoring into a powerful networked communications tool. It was also the first one to run over the Airwave network, providing seamless access to voice, video and text communications whilst linking to call handling and command and control systems.