General Policing Issues

AIRWAVE

As the roll out of the new radio systems across Scotland gains pace the need now is to look at the whole issue surrounding the Airwave Project. In this article the national Chairman, Norrie Flowers, tries to explain its origins, the current situation and what next.

What is Airwave?

TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio), otherwise known as Airwave, is the new digital communication system for the police service. It is known that Airwave has the capability to provide better communication for the police service, but what is still to be clarified is whether the system is detrimental to its users health.

 

There continues to be much debate nationally about the rollout of Airwave radios and possible short and long-term detrimental health effects to users. Some officers have genuine concerns about using the new radio system and recent media coverage has exacerbated this worry.

 

The feature of TETRA that has caused concern for officers is the use of a pulsed signal that operates at 17.6Hz, a figure that is very close to the Stewart report's recommendation of 16Hz. At this point it is believed that the brain ‘loses' calcium the brain's beta waves can also be affected.

 

It is hoped that the following gives an overview of where the Scottish Police Federation currently stands on the issue of Airwave, and also details what the Trower Report actually is and what it found.

 

History of the Airwave debate

 For many years the Scottish Police Federation has called for greater communications for the police service and we recognise that a digital system could be the answer.

 

In August 2001, the National Radiological Protection Board produced a report on the possible health effects from TETRA. The report concluded “Although areas of uncertainty remain about biological effects of low level RF radiation, particularly about modulated signals, current evidence suggests that it is unlikely that the special features of TETRA systems pose a hazard to health”, but did recommend that more research was needed. After the publication of the report the Government set up a comprehensive research programme to take the recommendations forward carried out by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

 

During the pilot in Lancashire , which started in 2001, Lancashire Police Federation reported that 176 users of Airwave had reported sick with symptoms such as nausea, headaches and stomach pains which the attributed to the new equipment. The Branch Board called in the Health and Safety Executive to risk assess the equipment and the Executive declared that on current evidence TETRA was not injurious to health.

 

At the 2002 England and Wales Police Federation conference, Airwave was a major issue for discussion. Dr. Gerald Hyland, an expert in microwave communications and contributor to the Stewart Report, shocked delegates by saying that officers were being used as “Guinea Pigs” to prove that the technology is safe. In response, Professor Colin Blackemore of Oxford University, and another contributor to the Stewart Report, repeated the claim that the evidence suggests there is no danger to users health from Airwave. Prof. Blackemore said at the conference, “Life is about balancing risks against benefits. I would say we are being very cautious in our approach to TETRA.” Prof. Blackemore did however, admit that he regretted the paragraph in the Stewart Report cautioning against frequencies above 16Hz as it had led to doubts over the safety of Airwave.

 

The questions surrounding TETRA are also causing concern in the general public. There are now many citizen groups that are campaigning to have TETRA masts taken down from their communities as they are reporting an increase in illness.

 

Studies on the affects of TETRA

In the Stewart Report, a number of studies were examined on the effects of radio frequency (RF) fields on the rate of loss of calcium from brain and other tissues. These studies, most of which were carried out in the late 1970s and early 1980s had suggested that when the RF signal was modulated at around 16 Hz the rate of calcium efflux was increased. It was concluded that although no obvious health risk was suggested, as a precautionary measure, modulation around 16 Hz should be avoided. TETRA operates at a frequency of 17.6Hz.

 

At the request of the Home Office, and following publication of the Stewart Report, the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) Advisory Board on Non-Ionising Radiation prepared a report on the possible health effects of TETRA. The report described the operating characteristics of TETRA systems and studies relevant to any biological effect. The report was published by NRPB in 2001.

 

It was recognised that calcium plays an important role in many biological processes, especially nerve cells. Moreover, as the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones had pointed out, there is evidence that RF fields, modulated at about 16 Hz, may influence the leakage of calcium ions from tissues. However, findings have been contradictory; they are more uncertain for living than for non-living tissue, and no associated health risk has been identified. It is notable that the signals from TETRA base stations are not pulsed, whereas those from mobile terminals and repeaters are. The conclusion from AGNIR was that:

 

“Although areas of uncertainty remain about the biological effects of low level RF radiation in general, including modulated signals, current evidence suggests that it is unlikely that the special features of the signals from TETRA mobile terminals and repeaters pose a hazard to health.”

 

A number of recommendations for further research were suggested by AGNIR. These include proposals for experimental investigations of the possible biological effects of specific TETRA signals or RF radiation amplitude modulated at about 16 Hz as well as other frequencies using human volunteers, animals and cellular systems. Also recommended are physical and theoretical studies to improve the assessment of the amount and pattern of absorbed energy from the use of hand portables or any other transmitting equipment deployed for use.

 

The Trower Report

There is a widespread belief that the Police Federation of England and Wales commissioned the Trower Report back in 2001. That is not the case.

 

Barrie Trower was initially introduced to the England and Wales Federation locally in Devon & Cornwall. England and Wales Committee members then met Trower and asked if he would produce a report and some questions that he thought they may want to ask. Trower was asked to keep the report confidential, as they would have needed to consider the points he made and discuss them further. This report was given to them for no fee and the points in the report were duly considered. However, the report was handed to the England and Wales Federation and the next day was found on the mastaction.com website.

 

Since 2001, other scientists have claimed that the Trower report is unsound. Although the Home Office agreed that some of the questions asked within the report were relevant, they questioned how he came to his conclusion.

 

The Trower report keeps appearing in the press and is mentioned by police officers as a Federation piece of work. The report was most recently mentioned in the October edition of ‘Ecologist' magazine. The article accused the Police Federation of England and Wales of covering up and ignoring the ‘findings' of the Trower report and since the publication of this article they have received a number of press enquiries and letters from members who are seeking clarification on our position. The facts are – they listened to the case put forward by Mr Trower and have also listened to a range of views expressed by other ‘experts' who believe that Airwave is no more dangerous than a mobile phone.

 

Responding to a Select Committee examining Airwave O2, the supplier of TETRA, said ‘Mr Trower's report contained no new research or evidence about Airwave or the TETRA system. He simply reviewed a number of previous studies that had raised health concerns about the TETRA standard. This material is well known to the experts at NRPB and ICNIRP and it has either proved impossible to replicate in subsequent studies, or the methodology of the studies themselves has been called into question. In conclusion, we need to respect the fact that people have concerns and it is right that these are openly acknowledged and addressed. But equally, it is important that people are given a fair and balanced view of the issues involved and that they understand the very real public safety benefits that the Airwave service brings. The tragic events of 11 September 2001 and—closer to home—the tragedies of recent years at Lockerbie, Hungerford, Hillsborough, Kings Cross and the rest all point to the need to ensure our emergency services have the communications services they deserve—fit for meeting the demands of the 21st century. ‘

 

The present situation of Airwave

 

Airwave is being rolled out nationally, with some 80,000 officers currently using TETRA, while the old analogue systems and frequencies are being phased out and returned to the Home Office. This leaves the police service in the position of using a system that some people believe is detrimental to personal health, or have no communication.

 

Many officers may be unaware that a 15-year health study will start in 2005 conducted by Imperial College , London . This will investigate health effects of TETRA on all types of users and will be linked to GP records and sickness records. It is proposed that interim results will be published during the study and the Scottish Police Federation welcomes this.

 

At a UK Police Federation Health & Safety Conference in October, Vaughan Askew from the Home Office gave a presentation on Airwave. Mr Askew said during his presentation that all the evidence and research that he has received points to Airwave being of no danger to the health of users or the public residing near masts, although he did concede that some areas warranted more research.

 

Mr Askew was asked the question about how the Home Office would react if the research showed that the system is detrimental to users health and what would he say to those officers who do refuse to use TETRA? Mr Askew's response was to reiterate that the system is not detrimental to health and that research is being carried out to clarify some issues that needed more examination. On the issue of officers not using the system, Mr Askew said that TETRA is the system being introduced and that there isn't much of a choice. If officers do not want to use the TETRA system then they would have a “personal choice to make”. Asked if he was telling officers to use TETRA or leave the police service Mr Askew again said, “you have a personal choice to make”.

 

Where do we stand?

 

Scientific opinion remains divided on the long-term health effects on Airwave users and the sighting of masts. The Scottish Police Federation recognises the value of Airwave in terms of greatly improved communications, and therefore greater officer safety. However we remain concerned and have expressed reservations about having a system imposed before the full results of the long-term health effects of the new technology are known.

 

Concerns about the effect of the possible loss of calcium ions from the brain, which can trigger chemical changes in cells that might affect everything from memory to personality behaviour, only became known after the agreement had been reached to start ‘phasing in' Airwave.

 

All UK Police Federations have repeatedly called for effective communications. We understand the huge potential and operational benefits TETRA can provide, however no one can categorically state whether the system is safe or unsafe. In the meantime officers have no option but to use the system because analogue wavebands are becoming obsolete.

 

Our demands for health monitoring have been accepted and we welcome the Government agreement to fund a 15-year health monitoring study of police Airwave users. A £5million study will be conducted by the Imperial College London. It will include both individual health monitoring and referrals.

 

If at any time Airwave is proven to be detrimental to the health of users, we would instantly call for the system to be withdrawn from service.

 

The Future

The Scottish Police Federation will continue to encourage and monitor all research into Airwave. We will, of course, communicate at the earliest convenience any updates we receive. However, in the meantime officers have no option but to use the system because analogue wavebands are becoming obsolete.