Dutch Ministry Recognizes the Importance of the Continuation Monitoring the C2000 Public Safety Network
Good progress has been made regarding the implementation of the ten improvement points, started in response to the recommendations of the C2000 Expert group, however continuation of monitoring the use of the network stays essential.
In an annual report the Ministry of Security and Justice communicated that rapid and uninterrupted communication is essential for the safe and effective operation of workers and thus for the safety of civilians. C2000 is the national communication system for emergency services in the Netherlands.
The TETRA system is used day and night by especially police, fire, ambulance services and certain parts of the Ministry of Defense as well as the Royal Military Police.
Following experienced problems with the network, the Minister of Interior, in 2009, established a "C2000 Expert Group'. The expert group was commissioned to determine the causes of these problems and to advise on the necessary measures. In December 2009 the final report was published.
The minister recognized the recommendations of the expert group and appointed ten improvement points which should lead to further improvement of C2000 and to restore confidence in the system among the helpers.
The recommendations:
- Strategic management (governance)
- Coverage Issues
- Roadmap 2025
- Capacity management during disasters and crises
- Special Coverage Locations and temporarily focused indoor coverage
- C2000 radio equipment
- National Fleetmap Framework
- Training and practice
- Coordinating Role of the emergency control room
Important to mention is that the expert group clearly stated that training for users of the C2000 network is very important and but must be permanent. Aid workers should be competent in the correct use of radio and mobile phone as well as the connection diagrams. This applies not only to the current population, but especially for new users.
The current renewal of the network makes necessarily for user organizations to continue to stay on top of all important issue that are related to the network so training stays a high priority.
In recent years much has been achieved. It is now important to hold to this positive trend to the future. C2000 is now being renewed and this means that new functionality will be implemented. New functionalities that offer new possibilities for end users. In conjunction with the linkage to the further development of the National Emergency Control Room Organization tight control and management from the Ministry of V & J is recognized to be essential.
The Inspection notes that good progress has been made regarding the implementation of the improvement points that started in response to the recommendations of the C2000 Expert group. In that respect, the Inspectorate sees no need to establish an official progress report.
However, because of the importance of a properly functioning C2000, Inspection will continue to monitor C2000 being used in practice, also in the light of the above developments. This means that the functioning of the communication system will become part of the inspection research on exercises and incidents. In this way it is prevented that the focus on the subject fades away.
Picture: Flickr
