LOCAL police officers piloting a revolutionary new radio system believe it is adversely affecting their health.

A questionnaire sent to serving officers across Lancashire using the TETRA emergency radio has revealed that 173 policemen and women believe the new system has made them ill.

Officers have reported a range of symptoms including headaches, nausea, nosebleeds, dizziness, sleeplessness, skin problems and an inability to concentrate.

The data has been compiled by the local Police Federation acting in response to rank and file concern about the new radio sets which use microwave technology to improve signal quality and increase security.

Lancashire was the first force in the country to switch on to the £2.5 billion TETRA system which, by 2005, will be used by all the emergency services including fire and ambulance.

Chairman of Lancashire's Police Federation, Steve Edwards, told the Citizen: "We've been assured that the system doesn't breach any safety guidelines but we've got 173 replies from officers who say they have experienced a range of minor symptoms since using TETRA.

"While we can't categorically state that these illnesses are due directly to TETRA, it is obviously a cause for concern and warrants further investigation.

Our members are worried and, because of the uncertainty of the scientific evidence, they are seeking reassurances."

The National Radiological Protection Board says there's no conclusive proof that any ill effects are due to TETRA but the recent Stewart Report into health concerns regarding mobile phone use suggested that frequencies similar to those used by the new radio system could be potentially harmful.

The Home Office is now closely monitoring any adverse health effects but police officers are worried that they are being used as human 'guinea pigs.'

Barry Tower, an independent research scientist commissioned by the Police Federation to report on the new system, explained: "There's lots of scientific uncertainty but one thing is for definite - the Government has spent £2.5 billion on a system with absolutely no record of safety tests or checks.

"I've recently had calls from three worried police officers who have been told to use the system for three months while the health implications are studied.

Anyway you look at it - they are being used in an experiment."