The Miners' Strike Control Room

The Miners' Dispute of 1984 brought about a massive upheaval in the day to day routines of Nottinghamhire Police. From the outset it was soon realised that communications between all the various police support units and the existing Force Control Room at Sherwood Lodge, using two VHF channels , wasn't sufficient.

A dedicated miners-dispute control room annexed to the main control room was hastily set up and manned throughout the dispute. I can still remember the hourly "sit-reps" where all the colliery contacts were called up to give updates on the situation there - how many pickets etc.