Radar Jammers (Hansard, 16 January 1995)

§ Mr. Ian Taylor

Responsibility for the regulation of civil radio use in the United Kingdom has been delegated to the Radiocommunications Agency, under its chief executive Mr. Jim Norton. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Colin Pickthall, dated 16 January 1995: The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about the sale of radar jammers. I presume you are concerned about equipment which it is claimed can either simply detect (ie receive) the operation of a police radar speedmeter or in some cases neutralise it. Under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 Orders can be made prohibiting the import, sale, manufacture or possession of radio apparatus which has the ability to cause interference to other radio use. The majority of radar detectors are simply radio receivers and are therefore inherently incapable of transmitting or causing interference to other radio use. Consequently it is not possible to make an Order under the Act prohibiting their sale, etc. An Order could only be made in respect of those radar detectors which it is claimed neutralise police radars, by reflecting their signal, 357W if it could be proved that they were so capable. To date we have no such evidence. It is however an offence under the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (the 1949 Act) to use any apparatus for the purpose of unauthorised reception or interfering with wireless telegraphy. Under this Act there is no bar as to who may instigate proceedings for offences under the Act. The Courts have also previously held that to offer for sale radio equipment which cannot be lawfully used is to incite members of the public to contravene the 1949 Act contrary to common law. Where radio equipment has been designed to be used for, or is used in the pursuit of other illegal activity, it is normal for the police or other relevant enforcement body to take the lead in any investigation. The Agency willingly assists in the investigation, by providing legal or technical advice, if asked to do so. I hope this is helpful.