DN 17/2022 – Radio Equipment Refresh

DN 17/2022       Date 10/11/2022

The Commissioner has decided to approve investment to fund the refresh of North Yorkshire Police’s radio equipment, following a delay to the national programme of work in place to provide a replacement for the current technology.

Background

North Yorkshire Police currently uses Airwave radio equipment for both handheld and vehicle-based radio connectivity. Radios are a critical safety system for officers, as well as a vital tool to support their ability to keep the public safe.

Aligned to the planned timescales for the national Emergency Services Network (ESN) Programme, which is delivering a replacement to Airwave technology, replacement of existing radios had been reduced to ensure that the lifespan of equipment was maximised and best value for money achieved. However, because of the significant delays to this programme, the Airwave radio technology needs to be retained for longer than expected. As a result, a refresh of the older equipment is required to reduce the risk of equipment failure and ensure the ongoing reliability of the radio equipment.

It is projected that an investment of around £613,000 will be required to fund the replacement of priority handheld and vehicle-based radios.

Decision Record

The Commissioner has decided to invest £613,000 in the replacement of airwave radio equipment to ensure the ongoing reliability of radio capability.

Zoë Metcalfe
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire

Statutory Officer Advice

Legal, Management and Equality Implications

Having read this Decision Notice and having considered such information as has been provided at the time of being asked to express this view, the Commissioner’s Monitoring Officer is satisfied that this Decision Notice does not ask the Commissioner to make a decision which would (or would be likely to) give rise to a contravention of the law.

This Decision Notice reflects the determination made by the Commissioner at the Executive Board on 1 November 2022. Its content has been approved by me in the Commissioner’s absence, pursuant to my urgency delegation, in view of the need to progress finalisation of the contract to which the decision refers.

Simon Dennis
Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer

Financial and Commercial

The Commissioner’s Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer has advised that while the funding for this specific proposal is not included within the current financial plans, the financial plans did contain funding to purchase the new equipment that would be required for the transition to the Emergency Services Network (ESN). As such some of the funding from the ESN project will need to be repurposed to provide this funding.

Michael Porter
Chief Finance Officer