British Police Equipment Part 1 - Personal Radios

Police Personal Radios

A familiar sight in London prior to the arrival of personal radios

The concept of personal radios for the Police has been on the radar since the 1930's. However, it wasn't until the 1960's that the technology made it viable and cost effective.

The introduction of the personal radio in the 1960's removed the need for officers to use a Police telephone box to keep in touch with the station.

c. 1960's Bristol Constabulary PC with Pye Pocketfone

1970's

The first type of radio used by Avon & Somerset Constabulary in 1974 was the Pye 'Pocketfone' PF1 which was first introduced in 1964 and adopted by Bristol Constabulary in 1966. This was a two piece radio which had a separate transmitter and receiver using the UHF radio frequency.

 

PYE Pocketfone PF1 with 'pop up' arial

Somerset & Bath Constabulary WPC demonstrating a PYE Pocketfone post 1967

  

City of Bath Police with their PYE radios c.1965

Here's a 1960's promotional video of the PYE Pocketfone personal radio.

1980's

Avon & Somerset Police officer with Burndept radio 1980s

During the 1980's the standard issue personal radio for Avon & Somerset Constabulary was the Burndept BE series radio.

The Burndept BE Series personal police radio was first developed in the late 1960's. It became standard issue for Police Forces by the 1980's.

It replaced the PYE radios which had been standard issue for Avon & Somerset Constabulary beforehand. It used two yellow P9 batteries. The radio could be worn with a nylon web harness or clipped onto a tunic or raincoat lapel. These radios were robust and durable.

                                                                  

Burndept radio with nylon web carrier

Greater Manchester Police Officers wearing their Burndept radios

Manchester Police Officer

                                                                                                               

Kent Police Officer 1984 (Photograph courtesy of Phil Rogers)

Police issue Burndept radio instructions:

Burndept radio user instructions page 1

Burndept radio user instructions page 2

The Burndept radio instructions shown above date from the 1980's and were given to Avon & Somerset Police new recruits. As with most paper communications of this period, they were typed using a typewriter and then photocopied. The master version was not always easily obtained so copies of copies would gradually result in poor quality versions being circulated.

1990's

The Burndept radios were replaced by the Motorola HT600E around 1990. These radios had two different types of microphones. The square microphone with additional antenna shown below was similar to that used by the London Met Police. Avon & Somerset Police used a version with a more rounded microphone and no antenna as seen in the comparison photos below. The microphones had a spring clip on the back which could be attached to a tunic lapel or the loops found on shirts and anoraks (see the uniform section). The bottom half of the radio contained the battery pack which could be detached and placed in a charging stand.

Police issue Motorola HT600E

Motorola HT600E: Digital channel search and volume control

          

Microphone comparison: Avon & Somerset Police used the microphone on the left

During the 1990's Avon & Somerset Police used their own leather radio holder as shown in the photograph below. These strong leather holders were individually numbered. An alternative nylon webbing version was also available by private purchase for use with the nylon duty belt. 

Avon & Somerset Police Motorola HT600E radio holders

It was reported back in 1987 that a London Metropolitan Police officer using this type of radio was saved by his microphone after a crossbow struck it. It later transpired the incident was fabricated by the officer.

2000's

The current issue Avon & Somerset  Constabulary radio is the Sepura which uses the UK wide TETRA network known as Airwave. During 2014 the Sepura 3500 was in the process of being replaced by the 3900 model.

Avon & Somerset Police Sepura radio

Some more information about these and other Police radios can be found from these links:

http://www.qsl.net/gm8aob/pages_2/be439.htm

http://www.foxtrot-productions.co.uk/equipment/radio/