Archive - Thursday, 17 January 2002


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Police question TETRA safety

GRASS roots police officers have demanded to know more about their new communications system set to be rolled out in Gloucestershire this year.

The body which represents around 1,150 members of Gloucestershire Constabulary, the Police Federation, said questions raised about the safety of the Airwave Terrestrial Trunked Radio system need to be answered before they pick up the handsets.

The call comes in the light of the Trower report, which claimed it should not be rolled out until proper research in to possible life-threatening effects is done.

It claimed that use of the Airwave TETRA system could be linked with diseases and illnesses including heart problems, tumours, arthritis, depression, miscarriage and infertility.

TETRA is the new mobile communication system for the police enabling speech, data and images to be sent to officers in the field. It will replace the outdated analogue system and eventually link all emergency services.

It has hit controversy in Stroud where district council planners have thrown out applications for the TETRA masts because of perceived health risks.

It is due to be rolled out in Gloucestershire by mid-2002, as part of a £2.5 billion nationwide network of 3,000 masts by 2005.

TETRA operates through non-ionising electromagnetic microwaves and scientists argue whether these waves could harm the human body. It conforms to national and international radiation guidelines.

"The federation has indicated that it may withdraw its support if questions are not answered," said Gloucestershire Police Federation chairman Rod Dalley.

"We believe that the Trower report raises questions that need answering, regarding the safety of the emissions of TETRA handsets," he said.

"A list of questions has been sent to the Home Office and we will expect a reply to them within the next few months."