Are Rozzers' radios a radiation risk?

The Airwave service uses the Tetra mobile communications standard, widely used by police forces and other government services across Europe. It is being developed by a special division of BT.

Airwave was piloted in Lancashire last autumn, and is due to be rolled out in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire later in the year.

However, major doubts about the system have been raised. Health researchers have questioned the safety of the system, and health services have complained that it tends to interfere with medical equipment.

The written question was asked by Conservative MP for Christchurch, Christopher Chope.

In a statement, Charles Clarke, Secretary of State for the Home Department, replied that he had asked the both the Defence Evaluation Research Agency and the National Radiological Protection Board to review Airwave.

He confirmed that details of any health issue which arose from their investigation would be made public without waiting for a further inquiry.