We can see in movies how some people can access the police radio scanner broadcasts will allow them to learn about police responses and current hypothetical fires to be put out. It can be surprising to know that this happens in real life too.
That may all come to an end soon enough. NCPD is now considering an upgrade in its communication system. The idea is that they will start using encryptions so it won't be so easy for the public to find their radio frequencies.
According to a report that Gizmodo confirmed, the NYPD wants to make the transition from public radio broadcasts to encrypted messages by 2024. Police think that they need privacy but some think that it will reduce transparency toward the public.
Reports suggest that the police may give access to members of the news media to monitor radio transmission, but there will be a delay, and users may have to pay a subscription fee to use the service.
Why This Idea Could Cause Problems
The media may not see this as something as innocent as wanting privacy. One of the ways the media stays ahead in news reports is by listening to the radio scanner.
Journalists base public safety news coverage on scanners. And it may affect news reporting about crimes or fires if it is no longer available to newsrooms, says a statement on the Reporters Committee website.
This could prove to be a dilemma for the police even if they are not legally required to allow public access, since people or most likely journalists, will cry out for transparency. It's possible for the state's Freedom of Law to build a strong case for disclosure, but before that happens, there's not much the public can do.
Some police claim that criminals listen in to police scanners as well to elude the police. They can flee the scene of the crime once they hear that the police are on their way to the location. Though, the Reporters Committee said that if you try tuning into the police radio channel, there is nothing but static.
How People Used Their Access to Police Radio Channels to Protect Themselves
One instance where a huge amount of people started listening in to the scanners was during the George Floyd protests. They were listening in to learn when the police will arrive, so that they may leave and protect themselves from crowd control measures.
There were applications in the App Store, both free and purchasable, that people can use to keep themselves updated. Amidst the protests brought by George Floyd's death, downloads have skyrocketed according to apps' developers.
The developers said that the 5-0 Radio app has nearly doubled the number of downloads every single day. It even surpassed apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok in the charts.
According to an article from Vice, one of the protesters has admitted that in some cases, his friends have been listening to police scanners to gather information about planned police actions ahead of time and leave before it happens.
