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Sir,
Over recent months we have heard a lot about residents’ objections to TETRA masts and the potential health risks attached to them. We have seen how the masts can destroy TV reception, and that appeals for removal of masts or for recompense for loss or remediation of TV reception go completely unheeded by any of those responsible. We have heard from many people of the headaches and sleep disruption they experience. All that has happened in this time is that the power of the mast at Woodside Road, Worthing, has been increased substantially and that all the felt effects are worse.
Now, on examination of what this system offers, it seems that it does rather less than it says on the very expensive tin. I can only assume that Sussex Police Authority are aware of this, and are nonetheless still prepared to commit our Council Tax in choosing to adopt TETRA as their communications system. I wonder if Worthing Council Tax payers are rather less aware of the cost? The "total cost of ownership" of TETRA is estimated at around £3,500 per year for each of the radio handsets, for 3,150 police officers, including rental of the mast infrastructure from mmO2.
TETRA has already cost some £2.9 billion of tax payers' money (to mmO2), and a further £500 million in incentives to police authorities to adopt TETRA, plus council tax money in local equipment and training. What will we get from our police for this money? Better radios, undoubtedly. The police will be able to hear each other clearly without criminals listening in, connect to each other more quickly, talk in groups and call for help with a single button. And they can send text messages. 90 per cent of that is achievable with mobile phone technology at a tiny fraction of the price. Moreover, the initial mmO2 contract will only guarantee radio coverage along tarmac roads. As recently as 12 May, mmO2 told a parliamentary group that TETRA will also enable real-time access to data from police computers, something that would be a true justification for a modern system. But this it will not do. Instead, mmO2 will have to sell its own commercially available portable data units as an add-on, and again we will have to pay.
When the next generation of TETRA comes out in a few years time, it might do what it says on the tin. But the police will have to buy it all over again. Is this best value for money, or even good value? Our police could have had everything in a single radio system, for a fraction of the price, by using the same system as the French and Spanish police. Their Tetrapol system is non-controversial, proven and safety tested, and requires far fewer masts. Their cost of ownership? Around £1,200. With resources already stretched, we have to ask whether our Police Authority is competent to manage our money and provide us with the efficient and effective police presence we would like.
I have been asking Sussex Police Authority questions like this about the safety, functionality and value for money of TETRA since February, and as yet have received no reply to a single question. Has anyone else fared better?
yours faithfully
Andy Davidson
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