Second letter to Dr Levy, Head of Airwave Sponsorship and Radio Planning, Home Office

Having received no reply, a second letter was sent to Dr Levy to focus on just one of the issues. When you've read this, read the astonishing comments after the letter, as reported by Mast Sanity in 2002.

Dr M F Levy Head of Airwave Sponsorship and Radio Planning Information and Communications Technology Unit Home Office 7th Floor 50 Queen Anne’s Gate London SW1H 9AT Sunday 28 March 2004 Dear Dr Levy I wrote on 11 March expressing concerns about TETRA/Airwave as the system of choice for police authorities, especially in regard to its health effects and potential dangers, but as yet have received no reply. Whilst my letter still requires a response, and you must be short of time for us, I wonder if I could help in the meantime by referring to one point in particular. Wherever TETRA masts are placed around the country there is an unprecedented reporting of cases of so-called 'electro-sensitivity' among communities living with the characteristic emissions from TETRA base stations. How does the Home Office intend to respond to this situation, since it has become as predictable as the television interference that also occurs? It seems that no-one is interested who should be interested in public health, and that this is rapidly becoming a national human rights issue. Again,what is actually happening is not being researched or investigated, but is rather being dismissed by government, Airwave operators, many police authorities and the NRPB, as being psychosomatic and hysterical. Your early response would be appreciated by the people of Sussex at the very least. By the way, we are fully familiar with the research so often cited on this matter; it does not answer or explain what is actually happening. yours sincerely Andy Davidson

Allegations reported in the media by Mast Sanity

Following trials in Lancashire and Yorkshire, police officers reported 200 instances of ill health.

It has been reported to Mast Sanity that Dr Mireille Levy, who we understand is the Officer at the Home Office and is responsible for research projects into the new police radio service TETRA, stated: “I don’t believe they are sick, they are not sick enough to stop this trial.”

South West Police Federation Rep. Steve Pearce is then alleged to have asked about the Police Officers who are ill, when Dr Levy is alleged to have replied: “They can always leave the force ... nothing will stop TETRA and if the Officers don’t like it they can resign ...”.

In her final statement to the conference proper she is said to have stated that: “They will be studying the health of the police for 10-15 years, but they are not guinea pigs.”

Other comments to questions put to her by delegates from the conference floor were: “What would happen if I refused to use the equipment?” Dr Levy replied: “You would be required to use the equipment that you are issued, if you do not want to use the equipment then you could leave the force.”

Another delegate asked: “Who would be responsible if I contracted leukaemia?” Dr Levy replied: “No one is.”

(See Mast Sanity Press pages)

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