The new Emergency Services Network
(ESN) [1] has been delayed and figures from
the National Audit Office suggest that a 12 month nationwide
delay in the time taken to transition from Airwave to ESN will
cost £475 million. [2] This means that every
day of delay to transition will cost approximately £1.3
million.
The ESN is being implemented across the country, but it poses
particular challenges in London because of the need for the
emergency services to communicate on the Underground.
Information Technology projects are inherently risky and
the GLA Oversight Committee has
recognised that delays will increase costs – but the scale of
those costs is concerning. The Committee has written a
letter to to flag up its worries about how
and when the new network will be implemented.
The Committee recommends that the Mayor:
- Monitors
progress of the ESN at a national level, to ensure that the
current delays do not put the safety of Londoners at risk, and
that a suitable solution for London is developed.
- Considers
whether the GLA Group has sufficiently strengthened its
procurement processes in order to support the delivery of ongoing
and future projects.
AM, Chair of the GLA Oversight
Committee said:
“We have been reassured that the Home Office is working
closely with the emergency services to deliver this programme in
a way that poses minimal risk for London and the safety of our
citizens.
Nevertheless, we believe there is a need for the Mayor to
continue to monitor the situation, and in particular, keep the
pressure on the Home Office and TfL to ensure they deliver a
solution that works for London.
For our part, the GLA Oversight Committee will also monitor
ongoing progress of the programme with a view to identifying any
future risks.”
Notes for Editors:
- The
new ESN will provide a mobile-data based communications network
for the emergency services, replacing their existing Airwave
solution. The ESN aims to deliver numerous improvements
over Airwave, including providing high-speed data to users,
greater flexibility to make use of new technologies as they are
developed, and cost savings.
- National Audit
Office, Upgrading emergency
service communications: the Emergency Services Network, 15
September 2016. Pages 10, 33, 51
- Read the
London Assembly July 7 Review Panel
Report from 2006
