217. The recommendations approved by Government for the re- organization of the Police communications system included a proposal to decentralize the existing '999' call and Radio Control System to District levels. To achieve this a portion of each District Headquarters was reconstructed to accommodate District Control Rooms and by the end of the year, installation of the necessary radio equipment was almost complete. In February 1960, equipment was installed in Colony Head- quarters which will enable the Headquarters Control Room to divert incoming '999' calls to the Control Room of the District in which the report originates.
218. The total number of messages received by the Colony Police Radio Control during the year was 28,405. This included 19,800 '999* calls resulting in the arrest of 2,623 persons. There were 304 false '999' calls.
TRANSPORT
219. This year helicopters were used on numerous occasions and were particularly useful in rescuing sick or injured persons from outly- ing areas to which other means of approach would have been extremely difficult.
220. During the year the Force operated the following vehicles:
54 Heavy General Purpose Lorries
40 Medium General Purpose Lorries 26 Light General Purpose Lorries
8 Armoured Cars
19 Patrol Wagons
120 Landrovers
18 Saloon Cars
4 Mobile Canteens
2 Water Carriers
3 Mobile Control Vans
1 Dog Van
1 Riot Water Tanker
24 Motor Cycle Combinations
71 Motor Cycle, Solo
THE POLICE BAND
221. The following engagements were filled by the Band during the
year:
Concerts in public places
Beating the Retreat in public
Official rehearsals, parades and functions
44
82
14
190
286