§ Mr. Brandon-Bravoasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to deal with abuse and unlicensed use of citizens band radio.
§ Mr. ButcherIn May this year my Department's radio investigation service (RIS) carried out concerted campaigns to counter CB licence evasion and abuse in the Cumbria, Chester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Swindon, Cardiff and Glasgow areas. In 1,200 visits the RIS found widespread abuse and licence evasion and took appropriate action ranging from warnings to seizing equipment with a view to court proceedings.
In the areas in which the campaigns took place there has been a noticeable drop in the level of licence abuse. The number of CB licences issued has since increased by 7 per cent. compared with a decline of 6 per cent. in the country as a whole. I am greatly encouraged by these results and have instructed the RIS to carry out similar campaigns throughout the country.
In 1985 to the end of September 714 offenders were prosecuted and convicted for CB related offences. The average level of fine was £73 with average costs of £30 awarded against offenders. In 462 cases, the courts ordered forfeiture of the equipment.
Serious degradation of the CB service is caused by the use of offensive and threatening language and the jamming of channels by the playing of music. In the heavy penalties awarded the courts have recognised the serious nature of such conduct. On the most recent cases in which offensive language or playing music was the initial reason for the RIS taking enforcement action, the level of fines has been 292W some 50 per cent. higher than for other cases. Individual fines have ranged up to £200 and in one case a persistent offender received a nine months' suspended prison sentence.