A new $2 million hi-tech Police radios system could be a be a top tool in the battle against drug dealers.

For Police insiders admit they are handicapped by drug dealers who monitor the Police net to try and stay one step ahead of the law.

But the new Motorola radios have a jamming system -- which means off-the-shelf scanners, which are easily obtainable, are useless.

And yesterday Police head of technology Michael Tucker said: "It's very bad news for drug dealers and good news for our officers.'' He added: "From an operational point of view, we knew we had to change because our old system was operationally insecure and also had dead spots.

"We know full well the uses to which scanners are put and that was one of the driving forces within the service towards a new system which would avoid the operational problems we had in the past.'' Mr. Tucker explained the old Motorola system could be encrypted -- but that meant a loss of power, leading to reception problems.

But he said: "Now we have no dead spots, they operate in a secure mode all the time and that means it's much more secure for the officers.

"The officers will be secure in what they say and we can dispatch in safety.

"The only way to listen to us now is to steal a radio -- and even then we can switch them off permanently when we know one's been stolen.'' Mr. Tucker added: "The radios have been very well received by officers on the ground and it's a major step forward in helping them to do their jobs.'' The new radios -- leased at a cost of $600,000 a year on top of the initial charge -- also come with a variety of new features.

The last system incorporated an emergency beacon feature -- but the new ones come up on a computerised network at the Police communications nerve centre where officers know exactly who is transmitting.

And Mr. Tucker said: "The radio ID is transmitted to Com-Ops and it's possible to make the handset go live so we can hear exactly what's going on at the other end.'' Police plumped for the Telecom Bermuda/Motorola system after a two-year investigation into the best system for the Island, which was narrowed down to a competition between two suppliers.

The Motorola system also incorporates a paging and phone call feature, which makes senior officers more easily contactable, especially in major emergency situations.

The radios went live on Monday, but the news was withheld for operational reasons until yesterday.

Mr. Tucker said: "They have been operating for two days now and very successfully.'' ON THE AIR! -- P.c. Okina McGowan shows off one of the new hi-tech personal radios unveiled by Police yesterday. The radios are encrypted, meaning owners of scanners cannot hear Police communications.

RADIO RAO