POLICE AND RADIO

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 428, 8 May 1937, Page 5

POLICE AND RADIO

CONTROL OF LARGE CROWDS Use During Coronation Press Association —Copyright. . London, April 17. A wireless-controlled traffic scheme which worked so successfully among the Grand National crowds at AinCree is to be repeated in London iat the time of the Coronation. At Ain. tree, Captain Hordern, Chief Constable of Lancashire, sat in the Royal car, and, by means of a small wireless set, communicated with a pilot cur, which was directed by an aeroplane. There were six police control points, all' receiving wiretesscl instructions from the aeroplane. The scheme, which is likely to ba developed greatly for the Coronation, is only one of the uses to which wireless is now being put by the police. An ever.widening net is being spread for criminals, and the Metropolitan Police is inci easing in every possible way its. command over radio A powerful new station was built recently in south-eust London to establish control over police cars for a radius of 40 to 50 miles round London. Another new station to increase still more the range of control is being built in Kent. Receiving sets have been given to policemen on horseback and fitted to police bicycles, and spoken messages can be received in some circumstances up to about 27 miles. Even the Thames police-boats are now fitted with apparatus giving twoway wireless communication, keeping th 'in as completely in touch with

Scotland Yard as are Flying Squad cars in the streets. The value of this “river-communication" is constantly being emphasised when fugitives are chased. Many spectacular arrests by means of wireless have been made by police in all parts of the country.