The International Police Association Radio Club, abbreviated IPARC, is a club for radio amateurs who are members of the International Police Association, abbreviated IPA.
With more than 360,000 members in 65 countries, the IPA is the largest police association in the world!
In the Netherlands, all Police officers, employees of the Koninklijke Marechaussee (Dutch Royal Military Police) and Special Investigation Officers may become members.
But back to the IPARC.
In 1975, during the IPA European Congress in London, it was decided that all national sections of the IPA would draw up a list containing the names of radio amateurs who were also members of the IPA.
At that time, radio connections were already being made regularly between radio amateurs of the IPA in England and Denmark.
By publishing these lists within the IPA, the various radio amateurs knew when they made a radio connection, wether they were dealing with a colleague from the IPA or not.
Within the IPA in Germany, the IPARC, International Police Association Radio Club, was subsequently founded in 1976.
This involved the establishment of a hobby club within the IPA association.
On August 23, 1979, the Netherlands followed with the establishment of the IPARC-PA, also known as IPARC Netherlands.
IPARC Netherlands still consists of an enthusiastic group of radio amateurs who make contact with their fellow radio amateurs, but of course also with their IPARC colleagues from their own and other countries.
With their radio equipment, IPARC members male local but also worldwide radio connections.
The IPARC also has its own club call: PI4IPA
In addition to this club call, various call letters have been used over the years at various events related to the IPA, the IPARC or the work that the IPARC members do or have done.
For some examples, take a look at https://www.qrz.com/db/PI4IPA
In addition, as IPARC we try to get together a few times a year, mainly to practice our hobby.
A great moment for members to test their equipment and/or antennas, use the club call together and exchange ideas with each other about anything and everything.