Dated: 31 January 2022
POLICY TITLE: Access to Northumbria Police Radio and Communications Systems by Outside Organisations
OWNING DIRECTORATE: Information Management
AUTHOR: Information Security and Assurance Manager (IS&AM)
CONTACT DETAILS: 101
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT: Complete
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM OF POLICY: To document the safeguards that must be followed to allow access to Primary Area Command Talkgroups between Northumbria Police and the partner organisations.
BENEFIT OF POLICY: Provision of essential operational contact between Northumbria Police and partner organisations.
REASON FOR POLICY: To allow the use of Airwave communications equipment by organisations working in partnership with Northumbria Police, subject to contracts signed in agreement with the Airwave Service provider (Airwave Solutions Limited) and conditions agreed by the Chief Constable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Access will be allowed to Primary Area Command Talkgroups for essential operational contact between Northumbria Police and the partner organisation, where operationally essential, with the following overarching safeguards and controls:
1. Users in partner organisations will be vetted to Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) level 2.
2. Airwave terminals will only be used for inter-operating with Northumbria Police, and not for any other business.
3. The Airwave software will be configured in such a way that terminals will permit access to a limited set of talkgroups appropriate to the required use.
4. Unless operationally necessary, the programmed talkgroups will not normally contain police members, except suitably authorised dispatcher terminals and thus will not normally carry operational police traffic.
5. Membership of the Primary Area Command Talkgroup will be subject to a formal agreement (Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)) between Northumbria Police and the approved sharer, to be signed at Executive level.
Use of the equipment will be subject to compliance with the Codes of Practice for Radio Terminals Using Air Interface Encryption (TEA2) to the 'Restricted' Airwave service.
'Guest users' will be allowed access to the system subject to compliance with the Codes of Practice for Radio Terminals Using Air Interface Encryption (TEA2) to the 'Restricted' Airwave service and an appropriate contract between the user and Airwave Solutions Ltd. All instances for such access will be assessed by the Digital Policing Department and the Information Security and Assurance Manager.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE DOCUMENT: None
GROUPS AFFECTED: All staff
ACCESS AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS: None
