Police radios to work on London Underground by April

Booster stations will help officers communicate with the surface and each other

Improving radio contact underground is a priority for UK police

Airwave digital radios should be operational in all 125 London Underground stations by April 2009, the government said today.

Improving radio contact underground was prioritised by police after the bombings on 7 July 2005, which highlighted problems with radio contact between officers on the underground.

"The testing and release for operational use of the 125 underground stations is due to be completed by 30 March 2009," said police minister Vernon Coaker.

Airwave is already being used operationally by all police forces in England, Wales and Scotland.

Under a separate contract with the Department of Health the service is being rolled out to ambulance crews nationwide.

Glasgow already has a similar booster system so that police radios, as well as mobile phones, will work on its underground metro system.