The police service relies on information and needs a complex communications system to help it function efficiently.
Information needs to be collated and distributed accurately and speedily.
West Yorkshire Police has a Force Call Centre, staffed by civilian and police officers who are responsible for answering the 999 emergency and other non-Emergency calls from members of the public. This is situated at Wakefield. Two Despatch Centres covering the whole of the West Yorkshire Area are situated at Bradford for the Western side of the Force and Leeds for the Eastern side of the Force. Police officers and civilians also staff both Despatch Centres with responsibility for dealing with VHF and UHF radio transmissions and the despatch of local police resources to incidents. Alongside the Force Call Centre and the Eastern and Western Despatch Centres are Special Operations Rooms for use in situations of further Emergency.