A SENIOR police chief has strongly denied reports that a controversial new radio system was leading to serious health complaints among officers.

Forces in the region have long been under pressure to reconsider the use of the Airwave digital handsets, amid claims that officers' health is suffering.

National reports suggested that 20 officers in North Yorkshire were off sick because of migraines and other problems associated with the Tetra system.

But the force's deputy chief constable, Peter Walker, insisted that nobody had taken sick leave and the system was considered the best communications option.

However, he conceded that there was no evidence to indicate that the handsets were completely safe.

"Twenty officers from around 1,400 who use it every day have expressed health concerns about the Tetra radios," he said.

"There is no scientific evidence to confirm that the radios pose a health risk, but unfortunately there is no conclusive proof that they are completely safe."

Mr Walker said that before the introduction of Tetra - which should be in widespread use across the country by 2005 - radio coverage had been at best patchy and the quality of the system dreadful.

Officers are said to be worried that radiation from the handsets is causing headaches, skin problems, sleeplessness and concentration problems.

North Yorkshire Police announced last May that it had agreed a £5m contract with British Telecom to use the Airwave system, which uses European digital technology to offer improved sound quality and better security.

More than 170 officers from Lancashire Police are also said to be concerned by the potential side-effects.

But Mr Walker added: "Naturally we take any threat to the health of our officers seriously. But as far as we are concerned, allowing officers to continue using the old radio system posed more of a risk to their health than any which may be associated with Tetra."