A SPOKESMAN for Lancashire police officers today insisted research into the health risks of a controversial radio system should have been done five years ago.

The Home Office has announced that officers will be asked to volunteer for a 10-year monitoring programme to identify any side effects of using Airwave.

Lancashire Constabulary was the first force in the country to use the technology 18 months ago. Since then 176 officers in the county have complained of headaches, nausea and irregular sleep patterns, according to the Lancashire Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers.

Steve Edwards, federation chairman, said Airwave should have been thoroughly tested in the mid-1990s as the technology was being developed and before officers were allowed to use the system.

But David Brindle, Lancashire Constabulary's corporate services manager, said there was no proof the complaints had been caused by Airwave.

He added: "The Home Office are doing this research as a precautionary measure.

"There are a minority of officers in every force who have concerns. The research is to put minds at rest.

"At the moment the system is working well. It's a significant improvement on what we had previously. As far as I am aware no-one has been off sick. Thinking the side effects are down to Airwave does not mean it is down to Airwave. It could be psychosomatic."

He added that the force wrote to minister John Denham supporting a review in January to reassure its officers.

Mr Edwards said: "I am not a scientist and I do not know technical or significant information about Airwave and its effects.

"But I am saying we have had this system for 18 months and we believe the research and evaluation should have been already been started.

"There is nothing to say it is definitely safe and nothing to say it's definitely unsafe. Should, at any time, it be proved to be a risk to health, it should be removed from use.

"The officers want reassurance from the government. We welcome the review but it is overdue."

Airwave replaced an analogue system and will eventually link all police forces. The mobile phone-style radios have reduced background noise and are blocked to prevent criminals listening.

Officers can also access police computers while out on the streets and talk to members of the public without returning to the station.

Not all police forces are using the technology, but most are due to transfer to it in the coming months.