Sepura GPS helping Mexico City’s fight against crime

16th December 2008 – Mexico City Auxiliary Police, known as Policia Auxiliar, use the GPS function within Sepura TETRA digital radios, to help curb the city’s drugs war where over 5,000 were killed during 2008.

A mapping application tracks the location of each officer through GPS technology embedded within the radio, giving quick and accurate reports of their position. To enhance officer safety, an emergency button can summon urgent support or help with the GPS precisely pinpointing the radio user’s whereabouts.

It also assists group operations because the location of each officer can be viewed at a glance on the screen in the control room, enabling more effective deployment and co-ordination of resources.

Sepura SRH3800 GPS radios were issued to officers in Mexico City’s most troubled areas, as part of a wide-ranging ‘clean-up’ initiative, to provide secure and reliable voice communications.

The project includes a network of CCTV cameras and an increase in the total number of police. New neighbourhood police offices have been opened as well as a brand-new control centre – the hub that tracks operations.

The radios were supplied by Conexiscom, Sepura’s partner in Mexico, which also developed the mapping application which the police force uses.

Yuki Susuda, Administration Director for Policia Auxiliar, emphasised the importance of GPS and its accurate position reporting of incidents, saying: “Sepura and the GPS tools will allow us to improve the rapid operation and management of our force.”

Tim Mills, Regional Director, Sepura, said: “Many cities within the Americas, in fact throughout the world, will find Sepura GPS to be invaluable in assisting their tough fight against crime. It will give police added protection, and it can assist in operational activities, such as the pursuit of criminals or in criminal investigation exercises.”

“In time, it can be used by other TETRA users, so that other services, such as fire, ambulance and utilities can benefit from the information that GPS offers.”