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Ofcom declares war on pirate radio stations
Ofcom today announced the results of an operation to take off air illegal
broadcasters operating in Greater London.
The operation began on the morning of Saturday 29 October to deal with
the large number of London pirate radio stations that illegally broadcast
over the FM radio band without a licence under Section 1 of the Wireless
Telegraphy Act 1949.
The operation has led to:
• 53 illegal broadcasters' radio transmitters seized;
• 17 transmitters and aerials disabled;
• 43 mobile and land line telephone numbers linked to illegal broadcasting
operations gathered for further Ofcom investigation to trace the subscribers;
and
• nine letters of warning sent to night clubs that have advertised
events on illegal radio stations.
Illegal broadcasting causes interference to the radios used by critical
safety of life services such as the London Fire Brigade and National Air
Traffic Services (NATS). The problem is most acute in London which accounts
for more than 50% of the estimated 150 illegal broadcasters operating
in the UK.
There is a direct link between some illegal broadcasters and serious crime.
Ofcom raids on the studios of illegal broadcasters have uncovered drugs
and weapons, including firearms. In some cases the cash raised through
advertising events at nightclubs is used to finance the purchase of drugs
for sale at these events.
Illegal broadcasting also causes interference to legitimate radio stations,
denying hundreds of thousands of listeners the opportunity to hear their
favourite programmes.
Robert Thelen-Bartholomew, Ofcom's Head of Field Operations, said: "Illegal
broadcasting affects safety of life services and has links with serious
crime. Ofcom will continue to pursue and prosecute those involved in this
criminal activity."
Ofcom has a duty under Section 3 of the Communications Act 2003 to secure
optimal use for wireless telegraphy of the electro-magnetic spectrum.
The Ofcom operation has resulted in 44 London illegal broadcasters going
off air since the start of the operation. Between 25 October and 1 November
(four days into the operation) Ofcom's unmanned monitoring station in
London recorded a 57% drop in the number of illegal broadcasts being made.
The operation involved 18 Ofcom field operations staff working with 32
Metropolitan Police officers.
John Anthony, London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner, said: "Pirate
radio transmissions interfere with, and sometimes entirely disable, the
communications systems the London Fire Brigade relies on. The interference
makes it more difficult for the fire fighters to go about their daily
business of protecting Londoners."
Paul Brown, Chief Executive of the Commercial Radio Companies Association,
said: "Commercial Radio provides properly regulated, socially responsible
content to its 31 million listeners. Pirate radio broadcasters pay no
copyright or licence fees yet they take revenue from commercial radio
stations all of whom fulfil the terms of detailed licence conditions and
who generate jobs and revenue in their transmission areas. CRCA therefore
welcomes today's announcement of Ofcom's London initiative."
The illegal broadcasters targeted by the Ofcom operation include:
• Afrique FM, Tottenham & Wood Green, 2 transmitters seized
• Baseline FM, Lewisham, 1 transmitter seized
• Blues FM, Peckham, 3 transmitters seized
• Bounce FM, Streatham, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter
disconnected
• Déjà vu, Bow, 1 transmitter seized
• Force FM, Harold Hill, 1 transmitter seized
• Freeze FM, Harrow, 1 transmitter seized
• Fresh FM, Erith, 1 transmitter disconnected
• Galaxy FM, Peckham, 2 transmitters seized
• Genesis FM, Rotherhithe, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter
disconnected
• Have it FM, Bow, 1 transmitter seized
• HFM, Rotherhithe, 1 transmitter disconnected
• House FM, Clapton, 2 transmitters disconnected
• Itch FM, Whitechapel, 1 transmitter seized
• Kool FM, Wapping, 1 transmitter disconnected
• Lightning FM, Brixton Hill, 3 transmitters seized
• Lush FM, Acton, 1 transmitter seized
• N Power, Honor Oak, 2 transmitters seized
• Naija FM, Plumstead & Wapping, 1 transmitter seized and 1
transmitter disconnected
• Nitro FM, Tulse Hill, 1 transmitter seized
• On Top FM, Kennington & Stockwell, 1 transmitter seized and
1 studio raid
• Powerjam, Battersea, 1 transmitter seized
• Ragga FM, Edmonton, 1 transmitter seized
• Rasta FM, Kennington, 1 transmitter seized
• Rhythm FM, Dalston, 1 transmitter seized
• Rinse FM, Wapping, 1 transmitter disconnected
• Rude FM, Holloway & Crouch End, 4 transmitters disconnected
• Select UK FM, Rotherhithe, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter
disconnected
• Shine FM, Clerkenwell, 1 transmitter seized
• Silk FM, Norwood, 1 transmitter seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
• SLR, Tottenham, 2 transmitters seized
• Subjam, Wood Green, 1 transmitter seized
• Supreme FM, Leyton, 1 transmitter seized
• Surprise FM, Peckham, 1 transmitter seized
• Sweet FM, Edmonton, 2 transmitters seized
• Touch FM, Whitechapel, 1 transmitter seized
• Unidentified, Stockwell, 1 transmitter seized
• Unknown FM, Edmonton & Holloway, 2 transmitters seized and
1 transmitter disconnected
• Vibes FM, Brixton Hill, 3 transmitters seized
• Vision FM, Limehouse, 1 transmitter seized
• Wax FM, Plumstead, 1 transmitter seized
• WBLS, Tottenham, 1 transmitter disconnected
• Whoa FM, Elephant and Castle, 2 transmitters seized
• Y2K, Holloway, 1 transmitter seized
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