1.23 PITO considers that Airwave has the potential to provide technological solutions that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the police. Airwave is not just a high quality radio system but also a platform upon which other technologies can build. Police forces are focusing on the ability of police officers to access data systems, such as the police national computer, and possibly to file reports while on the beat. PITO regards the system as an enabler that can reduce the frequency with which police officers have to return to the station and the length of time they spend on tasks such as making telephone calls or receiving briefings, although initially not all forces were convinced that all the benefits envisaged would materialise.
1.24 Representatives of Thames Valley and other police forces which conducted initial benefits analyses for the project consider that the most important gains will arise from senior officers having an overview of officer deployment and being able to keep in touch while on the move. They also anticipate the development of new ways of working which allow for a much closer interaction with the community and higher police visibility. Mobile "Police Office Centres and Stations" are envisaged in which Airwave will be a key factor in enabling officers to spend less time in the station and more time on patrol.
1.25 Harmonisation of technology nationally will reduce the costs of changing force boundaries. Although boundary changes between forces are not common, they do occur. Because of the differences in current radio systems between neighbouring forces, enlarging radio provision can be problematic, involving as a minimum the procurement of additional radio terminals and frequently requiring additional base stations or other infrastructure. Clearly there is an associated cost in making these changes, but more importantly, some systems are obsolete and additional radios are simply not available.
1.26 Recent changes to the boundaries of the Metropolitan police force required changes to the radio systems of three neighbouring police forces at an estimated cost of around £1 million. Such boundary changes should be easier to implement under Airwave and should cost less. Talk groups would need to be reconfigured but the common infrastructure would already be in place. Additional radio terminals would be easily obtainable and officers, already familiar with the Airwave system, would need little or no training.