Man 'used radio to pose as police'

A radio enthusiast posed as a constable more than 20 times by using sophisticated technology to link in to the police's communication system, a court has heard.

Vincent Dyer, 54, of Robin Hood Way, Greenford, Middlesex, allegedly tapped into police radio frequencies and used the shoulder numbers of more than a dozen real officers to check out car registrations.

Westminster Magistrates Court was told he had been buying radio equipment since the 1970s and that a scanner allegedly used to track police radio frequencies was found in his house.

Transcripts of conversations the prosecution claim showed Dyer connecting to police radio frequencies and checking car registrations in locations across London were played in court.

On one occasion the caller was asked for his shoulder number and then also his radio number because "checks were being done" but his details were verified as correct.

Another transcript apparently showed Dyer ringing in to check a car registration belonging to a man wanted by Derbyshire Police for assault, possession of an offensive weapon and harassment.

An investigation team was set up by the Metropolitan Police to catch the impersonator and Detective Sergeant Jason Tunn was tasked with getting an evidential sample of his voice, the court heard.

The officer, using a pseudonym David Barnes, discussed returning radio equipment to the man the prosecution claim was Dyer.

Dyer, who is currently unemployed, was arrested in October last year and is charged with 23 counts of impersonating a police officer in July and August 2006.

He denies all the charges.

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