On 25 January 2017, UK’s Public Accounts Committee mentioned that the new Emergency Services Network system could require more testing beyond its scheduled start date of December 2019.
The delays in introducing a new radio system for emergency services in England, Wales and Scotland may cost taxpayers £475m a year, according to MPs. There reason is that contracts for the old network may have to be extended, costing hundreds of millions of pounds to the taxpayers.Currently the police, fire and ambulance services in England, Scotland and Wales use the radio network Airwave in order to communicate. These contracts will expire in two years.
But the Public Accounts Committee stated that the new upgraded system, ESN, will need more time to become ready. The MPs mentioned that the Home Office had provided enough budget for the delay, therefore alternative plans should be prepared. The Committee further called on ministers to discuss about the performance of ESN in underground systems in London, Glasgow and other places.
Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier highlighted: "it is critical for public safety and achieving value for money that the government has a firm grasp of the implications of delays in its timetable and a costed plan to tackle them."
According to a Home Office spokesperson, the ESN is the most advanced communications systems and will provide significant savings for the taxpayers.
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