17 February 2020
The Metropolitan Police Service selected Sepura’s SC2 Series of TETRA terminals to replace their existing fleet in an agreement forming one of the largest single orders ever received by the UK-based TETRA specialist manufacturer.
This decision was taken after an extensive trial with the devices across numerous sites with varied teams within the force.
Trial users reported back their strong preference for Sepura SC2 terminals over other suppliers, with positive feedback based around improved performance where coverage was poor and the ease of access to emergency call buttons.
The large screen on both devices also proved popular, with its intuitive user interface offering quick access to essential functions.
The force fleet will comprise of both Sepura’s flagship SC20 terminal alongside its more compact but equally powerful stablemate the SC21. A choice of terminal is available to officers dependent on their operational requirement. This operational flexibility will be supported by a common user interface across devices ensuring that users will be familiar immediately with their allocated terminal.
Indeed, the overall solution delivered was as important to the force as the choice of terminal. Sepura’s “efficient battery management”, combined with streamlined accessories across the Sepura SC2 Series range, will allow the force to save costs and reduce deployment time on a day to day basis.
In addition, a bespoke software release has been developed to deliver specific functionality, supporting the operational performance of the Metropolitan Police. With future innovation possible through the AppSPACE software environment, the new terminals will help to drive operational efficiencies.
“The outstanding feedback from the Metropolitan Police trial users was that the SC20 and SC21 devices were significant upgrades on their existing terminals, with improved audio and an intuitive user interface allowing officers to use the terminal quickly with minimum expense on training,” says Gary Maughan, regional director for UK and Ireland, Sepura. “By taking the time to understand the force requirements, we were able to deploy innovative solutions that will enhance force-wide operations and TETRA fleet maintenance. We look forward to working closely with the MPS to deploy the devices and further support their communication requirements.”
The fleet will number over 32,000 terminals from the SC2 Series and SRG3900 mobile series, supplemented by Sepura’s extensive range of audio accessories. They were deployed throughout 2019, with the first devices going live in May and all devices operational by December.
“This order from the largest police force in the UK is a considerable endorsement of both Sepura’s products and our customer-led approach,” adds Steve Barber, chief executive officer (CEO), Sepura.
