THE director of Public Health Dorset has dismissed claims at a public meeting that the introduction of 5G technology would lead to a “substantial” rise in cases of cancer and other diseases.

At a ‘call for evidence’ on Monday, campaigners urged BCP Council to introduce a moratorium on the new network until its effects had been properly explored.

But Sam Crowe, who is responsible for advising the county’s councils on public health issues, said there should be “no concerns” about it.

The call for evidence, arranged after dozens of people attended July’s cabinet meeting to raise concerns about “outdated” government guidance on 5G, followed the announcement that Bournemouth would be one of the first towns in the country to have the new network installed.

So far, 168 people have submitted written evidence as part of the consultation with verbal statements given ahead of Monday’s council scrutiny board meeting.

Nick Greenwood said alternative communications technologies needed to be used rather than rolling out 5G.

“The stakes are very high,” he said. “Humans are bioelectric systems and environmental exposure can interact with the human body.

He said the council should declare a moratorium, similar to those introduced in Geneva and Brussels, until more detailed research had been carried out.

But Sam Crowe, director of public health at Public Health Dorset, said advice from Public Health England and the World Health Organisation was that it was safe.

“Public Health England tends to be a very cautious body,” he said. “It’s an independent body and provides impartial advice based on the best scientific knowledge.

“At the frequencies we are talking about for 5G there should be no concerns for public health.”

Councillors were also told that the new network would be a boost to technology-based businesses in the area.

Anthony Storey, director at Silicon South which works to promote digital industry in Dorset, said: “[Technology] is blurring the divide between tech and other sectors and we are working much more closely with all the other ones,” he said.

“These are quite exciting times where new tech businesses are choosing Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to base their businesses.

“This puts us in a really strong position to take us to the technology of the 21st century.”

Members of the scrutiny board will consider all the evidence after the October 7 deadline for submissions.