11 May 2007
Advance notice - Public Warning System launch
City of London Police and the City of London are holding a joint
event next Wednesday 16 May to demonstrate a new public warning
system.
The system has been installed to help the Force in fulfilling
its obligations under the 2004 Civil Contingencies Act to advise
and warn and inform the public.
It consists of loudspeakers fixed to eight of City of London
Police’s existing CCTV camera mounting poles. Each loudspeaker can
broadcast a message that can be heard up to 150 metres away.
The loudspeakers will only be used in the event of an emergency
or a major incident affecting the City.
Supt. Brett Lovegrove, Head of counter-terrorism at the City of
London Police said: “The Public Warning System will be used to
augment existing emergency arrangements and will broadcasting voice
messages to help in redirecting and alerting the public where
necessary.
“The public warning system is designed to support, and not to
replace, other systems that City of London Police has in place to
warn and inform the community.”
At Wednesday’s demonstration the loudspeakers will issue a
simple one line message: "This is a test message on behalf of
City of London Police."
Chairman of the City of London’s Police Committee Keith Knowles
said: “The City of London and the City of London Police already has
many methods of communicating with businesses, workers and
residents in the Square Mile. This system is an additional tool to
ensure the Square Mile is prepared to cope with a major
incident.”
Ends
Note to editors
Media interested in hearing / recording the live message should
meet at the North West corner of Moorgate and London Wall at
10.30am on Wednesday 16 May. The loudspeakers will be briefly
demonstrated at 10.45am.
For further details contact:
Catriona Mackie: Press and PR officer City of London Police
Tel 020 76012220
Rebecca Sandles: Press Officer, City of London
Tel 020 7332 1452
Email