Police Stations to House Cell Phone Towers

A police station in London is to become the first in the UK to allow the sitting of a mobile phone base station on its premesis following a approval from the Metropolitan Police Authority's Finance Committee to allow the construction at Chiswick Police Station.

Graham Tope, Chair of the Finance Committee, said "The Authority is well aware of the sensitivities regarding the location of telecommunications aerials. That is why we insisted that each and every decision should be brought before the Finance Committee to satisfy ourselves that, as far as possible, the decision will not be detrimental to either the health or safety of our own staff and the broader community.

"We are satisfied that the Metropolitan Police estate can support aerial masts without any detrimental effects on local communities, but will continue to monitor all decisions taken."

The Finance Committee agreed in January this year that the MPA estate could be used for non emergency service aerials as a means of revenue generation, subject to certain stringent criteria, to include a "presumption of remoteness" test, interpreted as being away from schools, hospitals and other specific sites, such as tower blocks or similar buildings of permanent residential occupancy; and the specific permission of the Authority's Finance Committee for each and every contract pursued after submission of individual and specific risk analysis."

Posted to the site on 14th July 2003