The general public will soon lose access to police dispatch calls as channels become encrypted.
Upgraded services at the newly operational South Island 9-1-1/ Police Dispatch Centre include a $24.5 million upgrade to the dispatch equipment. The switch to a new digital system, called P25, by the Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications Incorporated (CREST) promises more reliable technology, better audio clarity and further coverage.
However, with the switch comes a security update which will encrypt emergency dispatch channels, barring the public from listening to police scanners.
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B次元官网网址淩eally the push is privacy and security,B次元官网网址� said Gord Horth, general manager of CREST. B次元官网网址淚 do appreciate itB次元官网网址檚 going to hamper the media to respond as quickly, but it seems to be where the world is going.B次元官网网址�
Fifty users will come on board with the new system, including many branches of the RCMP, which Horth said is the main advocate for encryption.
B次元官网网址淭he big push is from a federal mandate,B次元官网网址� Horth said. B次元官网网址淭he RCMP is the lead push on this so the challenge is if you want to talk to people, they wonB次元官网网址檛 talk unless itB次元官网网址檚 encryptedB次元官网网址hat means things like fire departments get pulled along.B次元官网网址�
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While emergency responder safety is important, a total blackout puts the public in danger, argues Howie Allan, a police scanner enthusiast who runs the popular Facebook page B次元官网网址淲HAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?B次元官网网址�
AllanB次元官网网址檚 page, with more than 11,000 members, advises the Greater Victoria public about police scanner information, including traffic collisions and missing persons updates.
B次元官网网址淭hat will kill us,B次元官网网址� Allan said. B次元官网网址淎ll the news people, everyone is worried about it.B次元官网网址�
Allan said heB次元官网网址檚 aware of the need for police safety, but that freedom of information is also important.
B次元官网网址淣inety-nine per cent of us listening to scanners are helping police,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that the group has helped police find missing people. B次元官网网址淧lus itB次元官网网址檚 good to know when an accident occurs so we can avoid the areaB次元官网网址� Who wants to hear about an accident three days later?B次元官网网址�
Horth said CREST will need to wait for all 50 parties to come on board with the new system before encryption will begin, and estimated the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020 to be a likely time frame.
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