Report warns of cop brain tumour risk

Just in case you have not seen this:Sylvia-------------------Jane's POLICE Review 5th June 2009An article on TETRA will appear in this week's "Jane's POLICE Review" magazine- based on information supplied by Barrie Trower. The Senior Reporter is askingfor any TETRA users who are interested in receiving the article, and possiblygivingfeedback - to contact her by e-mail.sarah.bebbington@janes.comhttp://www.policereview.com/public/jpr/index.html Link to website showing the front-page headlines.

Airwave allegations after G20 protestsSarah Bebbington

POLICE behaviour at the G20 protests in London could have been caused by thefrequency used by officers' Airwave radios interfering with their brainwaves, oneexpert has said.Barrie Trower, an independent research physicist who specialises in the effects of radiation on the brain, said prolonged exposure to Airwave radios is 'messing up'police officers' decision-making processes.He told Police Review that police officers were waiting in metal vans for hoursbefore they were needed at the G20 protests, and that their Airwave radio waveseffectively turned the vehicles into microwaves.Mr Trower has compiled a report for the IPCC and has had contact with a senior Met officer following the events at G20.The police Airwave radios send out microwaves at a greater rate than the brain'snatural rhythm, which controls making rational decisions in emergency situations,he said.Mr Trower told Police Review: 'If you put other waves through the brain, you endup with entrainment, which makes you do something you are not programmed todo.

'You could not have picked a worse frequency to the police. Entrainment cancause violent behaviour, aggression, sleeplessness, irritability or agitation.'The Independent Police Complaints Commission has received 128 complaintsabout police officers during the protests - 46 are being investigated. Two Metofficers have been suspended and two are on restricted duties, the force said.Mr Trower, who has previously worked with the Police Federation of England andWales, urged the officers under investigation to have a brain scan to check thattheir behaviour had not been an early sign of a brain tumour.He told Police Review that between three and 15 per cent of the population islikely to be affected by electromagnetic hypersensitivity, which means they cansuffer symptoms including rage, violence, irritability, hostility and anxiety.Mr Trower's claims have been denied by ACPO, Airwave and the National PolicingImprovement Agency.A spokeswoman for Airwave said the radios' power levels are comparable to thoseof a mobile phone.She said: 'Many independent scientific panels around the world, such as theNational Radiological Protection Board, plus government agencies and healthauthorities, such as the World Health Organisation, have reviewed research intoradio waves and health.'All of them have reached the same general conclusion - that there is noestablished evidence of any adverse health effects from exposure to radio waves.'The Met did not comment.

Report warns of cop brain tumour risk

THOUSANDS of slow-growing brain tumours could be affecting Airwave-users inthe

, according to a physicist who specialises in the health effects of radiowaves.Barrie Trower, an independent research physicist who studies the effects of radiation on the brain, has predicted that officers could feel the effect of anythingbetween 1,090 and 7,630 cancerous growths.Mr Trower used research from the journal Scientific American, which stated therewas a 0.206 per cent increase in the chances of contracting tumours by mobilephone users, to calculate how many Airwave users could be at risk.The figure followed a report by Prof Lawrie Challis, the Government's leadscientist on mobile phone research, published in the International Journal of Cancer in 2007, which stated there was an association between tumours and

prolonged mobile phone use. Mr Trower compared this to 300,000 police officersand staff, and other Airwave users.He said: 'This suggests a potential for a possible 1,090 slow growing tumours, butit could be much more. It could be up to 7,630. I do not want to stop police officersusing Airwave if they want it, all I want is a referendum on it. I would like people tobe aware of what the dangers are. In my opinion, police officers are not being toldthe truth about Airwave.'Airwave, ACPO and the National Policing Improvement Agency denied theseclaims. An ACPO spokeswoman said: 'There is no evidence that Airwave causescancer or is responsible for behavioural change.'An NPIA spokesman added: 'The statements attributed to Mr Trower are whollyspeculative and have no basis in fact. Airwave has been in everyday use in everyforce in England, Wales and Scotland for many years for every type of policingevent.'An Airwave spokeswoman said: 'Research continues to enhance scientificunderstanding about radio waves and health.'The international scientific consensus is that there is no evidence of any adversehealth effect within accepted exposure limits, regardless of frequency or modulation.'

Radio may face withdrawal call

THE Police Federation of England and Wales has said it will instantly call for Airwave to be withdrawn if associated ill-health effects are proven.Paul Lewis, secretary of the federation's health and safety sub-committee, said:'We would never advocate using any technology that would endanger the lives of police officers.'In the past, we have stated that we would instantly call for the Airwave system tobe withdrawn if it is proven to be detrimental to the healthof users. We maintain that stance.'We value scientific research and deem it to be wholly necessary, particularlywhere health and welfare could be at risk.'áHe added: 'Police officers put their lives on the line to protect society and theyneed the right technology to do the job.'In many ways Airwave has already proved itself to be an invaluable asset topolicing since its complete introduction in 2005.