Research
| Published date | 01 June 1964 |
| Date | 01 June 1964 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6403700608 |
| Subject Matter | Research |
RESEAR()U
Personal Radio
Fixed conference points, pre-arranged beat patrol routes, police
.. pillars", the light on top of the Town Hall, as means of keeping or
making contact with the man on the beat, seem to be definitely on
the way out.
Personal radio for beat men, with control at force or divisional
headquarters, is coming into its own. This was demonstrated at the
Police College in March, 1963, when the advanced design sets by
Lancashire Police and by Campbell-Bruce Electronics, Ltd., were
exhibited and tested. Readers of this
JOURNAL
will also recall Mr.
Arthur McCartney's excellent article describing the use of personal
radio in Lancashire (May,
1962).
The latest step in this direction was taken in January, 1964, when
Stockton division of Durham county police received their first two
pocket radios from Campbell-Bruce Electronics. Ten sets are now in
operation.
The equipment is in two
pieces-a
receiver which measures
5! in. X
31
in. Xiin., weighing 10oz., with a wire aerial concealed
in the clothing, but which is being developed with a built-in aerial.
Reception can be obtained either through aloud-speaker in the set
or through an ear-piece, which when in use automatically cuts out
the loud-speaker.
It
is powered by two small 9 volt batteries in
parallel. This part of the equipment can be carried in the breast
pocket of the uniform tunic or shirt and the only equipment visible
is a short wire to the ear-piece. The transmitter, powered by a 45
volt battery measures 6 in. X
31
in. X
Ii
in. and weighs 1lb. 7oz.
It has an extending aerial and can be carried in any pocket. To
transmit, the aerial is extended and the sender speaks into a micro-
phone in the bottom of the case, at the same time pressing a small
button switch.
The control station, at the divisional office,is a 15 watt transmitter!
receiver and by arrangement with the Home Office Communications
Branch operates on a different channel from the main police
frequencies. The aerial for the control station is fixed to a chimney
at a height of about 55 ft. (Stockton-on-Tees has its usual share of
tall buildings which might interfere with radio communications.)
The designer of the set, Mr. Ian Campbell-Bruce, saw it put
through its paces at Stockton on March 19 and 20, 1964, when a
demonstration was put on by Mr. A. A. Muir, chief constable
of
Durham, and chairman of the A.C.P.O. Research Committee.
273 June 1964
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