Police get state-of-the-art communication system |23 December 2014

Effective communication is a major tool in the fight against crime, and this has perhaps been one of the major challenges of the Seychelles Police during the past years.

With the recent installation of a new state of the art communication system, the police are now better equipped to effectively fight crime and carry out its daily duties.

Knowned as the ‘Motorolla Therbonet Radio Communication System’, the project which has been funded by the United Organisation for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was commissioned yesterday morning during a ceremony at the Central Police Station.

It was the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan who had the honour of successfully making the first radio call all the way to the La Digue Police Station. This was during a short ceremony in the presence of acting Chief Justice Durai Karunakaran, members of the diplomatic corps, Police Commissioner Ernest Quatre, head of UNODC’s Global Maritime Programme Alan Cole and senior police officers among other invitees.

The communication system which has as main accessory a Motorola digital two way handset radio, functions via radio towers which have been installed on various hill sides of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. The mobile radio is equipped with an automatic recorder and GPS (Global Positioning System), which permits to permanently locate it, its user and the vehicle it is in. It also records the itinary and speed of the vehicle. The radio which can be blocked if lost, has even a built in alarm called a ‘geofencing alarming system’ which can warn of an intruder approaching a restricted area.

According to the police public relations manager Jean Toussaint, the new communication system will allow direct and real time communication link providing reliable scalability which covers at least 98% radio of Mahé and the inner islands of Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette, while ensureing privacy via a closed independent network.

He added that the new equipment, which also permits to send text messages, will be a big boost to police field operations.

While commissioning the new system, Minister Morgan described it as a milestone in the history of our police force, another big step forward in its quest towards modernisation and a big boost to its general field operations. He added that the new system goes a long way in easing radio communications for men and women in uniform.

Mr Morgan added that while communication system via radio link without having to shift channels has become a reality, the radio system enables one to locate and monitor mobile patrols from the control room and improve the police response time to scenes as they will be aware of where assistance is needed.
As the Motorola system is a costly and advanced system, Minister Morgan has asked that it is properly utilised.  

He urged all officers to handle their radio equipment with utmost care. For them to be able to do so, he insisted that they appreciate and value of its invaluable contribution towards the fight against crime and handle and use them just like they would treat their personal equipment.

“Having the technology to assist the police in better delivering their service is one thing but we must ensure the optional use of the equipment,” the minister said.

The Motorolla Therbonet Communication System has been designed and installed by ‘Communication Specialists Limited’, a Seychellois owned communication specialist company based in Hampshire, UK and present in Africa for the last 25 years. Its managing director Mervin Labrosse says that as a Seychellois, he has taken particular personal interest in the Seychelles’ project.

Parodixacally, it is the prisoners from the Montagne Posée Prison which have provided the necessary labour force for the installation of the communication infrastructure, under the guidance of Chief Superintendent Godfroy Hermitte.

Minister Morgan commented that the detainees should become more productive and contribute more to the country.

The Seychelles’ police next grand project is a comprehensive camera surveillance coverage of the town area which will soon be operational.