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8 Dec 2004 : Column 649W—continued
Terrorism Act (Searches)
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) vehicles and occupants were searched under section 44(1) and (b) pedestrians were searched under section 44(2) of the Terrorism Act 2000 in each police force area of England and Wales in 2003–04; and how many (i) arrests and (ii) prosecutions resulted. [199417]
Ms Blears: The statistics for 2003–04 are not yet available. They are due to be published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, in mid-December 2004. Statistics relating to race will be published in Home Office Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System in January 2005.
The statistics will show the number of stop-searches and the number of resulting arrests under both the Terrorism Act and other legislation. The statistics for charges and convictions are not cross-referenced with the searches and arrests in this way and could be collated and verified only at disproportionate cost.
Statistics on arrests, charges and convictions under the Terrorism Act 2000 are available on the Home Office website.
TETRA Airwave Project
Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has carried out on the potential health risks related to the introduction of the TETRA Airwave project for police forces in England. [200965]
Caroline Flint: Following the publication of the Stewart Report "Mobile Phones and Health" in May 2000, we took expert advice from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB)'s independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR) on the health and safety aspects of TETRA technology. The AGNIR experts suggested a number of areas where further research would be useful. These suggested have been taken forward as follows:
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is assessing the effects of TETRA on various types of cell. Dstl has concluded that TETRA has no effect on calcium exchanges in cells. Further work on epileptiform activity and cognitive performance is under way;
The Universities of Birmingham and Manchester are looking at patterns of use of Airwave among police users;
Microwave Consultants Ltd. (MCL) has been looking into Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) levels from TETRA equipment. MCL have found that SAR level from hand-held and hands-free equipment are within international safety limits. Work on SAR levels in vehicles is under way;
The Radiocommunications Agency (now part of Ofcom) checked emission levels from TETRA base stations.
In addition we are funding research on TETRA as an adjunct to the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme. Studies funded under this arrangement are selected and managed by the MTHR Programme Management Committee. These studies include the Burden Neurological Institute's examination of possible effects of microwave radiation on the electrical activity of the brain and the University of Bradford's study of possible non-linear and demodulation mechanisms in biological tissue.
These extensive studies have so far found no evidence of any particular risk to health from TETRA.
Further details of the Home Office's programme can be found at www.policereform.gov.uk/implementation/tetra/index.html and of the MTHR programme at: www.mthr.org.uk.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has conducted research into the potential health risks for users of the TETRA system. [199942]
Caroline Flint: We commissioned a number of research projects to study the health and safety effects of TETRA technology following the recommendations of the National Radiological Protection Board's independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation. No adverse effects have been identified to date.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces use the TETRA system. [199943]
Caroline Flint: Airwave, the new police radio system, is currently available to 42 police forces in England, Wales and Scotland. The number of users of Airwave continues to increase and at present the system has around 85,000 users.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding adverse health conditions consequent on use of the TETRA system. [199944]
Caroline Flint: The Police Federation has been, and continues to be, involved in the implementation of the Home Office's programme of research into the health and safety aspects of TETRA technology. Requests for further information from individual forces and federations have been dealt with as they arose.
Wildlife Crime
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police authority area in England and Wales are assigned to tackling wildlife crime. [199988]
Ms Blears: The information requested is not available centrally. The latest information on police service strength for March 2004 was published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 13/04, "Police Service Strength England and Wales, 31 March 2004".