THERE has been much public debate surrounding the safety of new a TETRA police communications mast on the British Telecom building in Dursley. Last week TETRA co-ordinator for Mast Action and TETRA consultant for Mast Sanity Lynne Edmunds stated her case. This week Airwave O2 responds to the claims and also puts forward its argument as to why the system will benefit the police and public.

LYNNE EDMUNDS spoke in her article about the introduction of the Airwave service, which is being operated by O2, and concerns that some have raised about possible health effects from the system.

In her piece Ms Edmunds said Airwave operates at 17.6Hz. It does not. Airwave operates within the 380-400 MHz frequency band. Its handsets pulse at 17.6Hz (ie they emit radio waves which are themselves within the above frequency band in bursts which occur 17.6 times a second).

However, there is no evidence that this has adverse health effects, and the latest research reinforces this - a position held by Prof Lawrie Challis, who was Stewart's deputy, during the Stewart Enquiry, which examined the health risk posed by mobile phones, and who now chairs the Mobile Telephone Health Research programme, and Prof Colin Blakemore, who also helped write the Stewart report.

And, to provide reassurance, Airwave base station transmitters do not pulse.

Ms Edmunds mentioned that complaints in respect of the wide variety of symptoms she lists have been made by police officers currently using Airwave. No formal complaints of this kind have been made to Airwave.

Lastly, Ms Edmunds said Airwave has "broken down again" in Manchester. This is not true. Officers of the Greater Manchester Police are currently migrating to the service, with a significant number already using it, reporting operational benefits.

Better coverage, improved safety and advanced features - these are just some of the benefits of the new police radio system which is being introduced in Gloucestershire.

Airwave is rolling out live across the county during the next few months following its handover to Gloucestershire Constabulary by O2, the company that operates the service, at the beginning of June. Officer training on the new radio system will begin in September, with the first set of officers going live with the system in December.

The new Airwave radio system is being introduced in Gloucestershire as part of the government's plan to have one compatible national police radio system across the country. The new radio system uses digital technology which will provide secure, clear communication with good coverage. The system has been funded through a combination of government grant and contributions from Gloucestershire's policing budget.

As well as providing an improved radio system with greater quality coverage across the county, which will have a positive impact on officer safety and the service the constabulary can provide to the public, the Airwave radio system is highly encrypted and therefore cannot be scanned by unauthorised parties.

The system will be multi-functional as the new radios are also mobile telephones allowing officers to be even more efficient.

The new system offers many other advantages:

* Coverage around the county will be far better than the current radio system, which means that officers should experience fewer black spots in coverage. This means that not only will they be contactable in nearly all areas, but if they were to call for assistance they will always be heard.

* The officers' ability to call for assistance in emergencies will be improved with this system too - a special button will allow officers a quick and easy way to call for back up.

* When the new system becomes fully national in the next two years or so it will allow for greater national roaming by officers and greater inter-operability between forces. This means that, where criminals cross boundaries, police officers from neighbouring forces will be much better positioned to work together and the nationwide service will enable officers to stay in touch with their home force at all times.

* Digital technology will make transmissions far clearer than at present with a reduced likelihood of interference from other sources.

Airwave is being installed by O2 Airwave by the end of 2005 to all police forces in England, Scotland and Wales.

Managing director of O2 Airwave Peter Richardson said: "The Airwave service has been designed with a clear goal in mind - to help make Britain a safer place. Gloucestershire is the twelfth force to receive Airwave in the national roll out programme so we very much look forward to seeing officers begin to use the system. The features and benefits of Airwave should help the force to further improve officer safety and the service provided to the people of Gloucestershire."

Cyril Smith, Airwave project manager for Gloucestershire Constabulary said the force recognises that there is much public debate regarding health and safety issues surrounding Airwave, which it takes very seriously. Mr Smith here explains how police believe the new system will benefit the force.

Since the launch of the Airwave project the constabulary has been taking reassurance from the opinions of mainstream scientific communities and bodies, who emphasise that TETRA masts, which are needed for the Airwave system to work, pose no more threat to health than any other system.

We have a keen interest in protecting the health and safety of our staff. In this light we know there is a mass of hard evidence that in their day to day work police officers face significant risks and that our existing analogue radio systems do not offer the best protection against these risks.

Conversely, there is hard evidence that Airwave offers a better communication system and an immediate higher degree of protection to our staff and a better service to the public. By way of example, Airwave offers a secure system, can offer improved coverage and includes an emergency alarm facility.

We have sought and been given assurance by the Home Office that there is no evidence from any credible source that this technology as applied poses any discernible risk to health.

These findings have been openly published and seminars made available to staff to explore the issue; as findings are made available to us into the future, we will share them with staff and with staff associations.

Airwave's unique benefits will help the constabulary to improve the effectiveness of policing across the county.

It will revolutionise communications, bringing the force into the 21st century. The Constabulary is committed to providing equipment for staff that will promote valuable and efficient services.

On this basis we have a duty to proceed with Airwave. The constabulary sees no reason to alter its plans. In June the service was accepted and it is anticipated that the first division will go live in December.

Pictured: The Tetra mast on the roof of the old post office in Dursley GJA604V03