Source:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2008/02/nr_20080219a
Ofcom, police and London Boroughs take action against illegal broadcasting
* three arrested
* twenty two illegal transmitters seized
Ofcom today announced the results of joint operations across four London
boroughs to take illegal radio stations off the air.
Working in partnership with the London Boroughs of Hackney, Haringey, Tower
Hamlets and Islington, as well as the Metropolitan Police, Ofcom’s team
carried out enforcement action against over 20 illegal broadcasters in these
areas.
Illegal broadcasters can cause interference to safety-of-life services, such
as the fire brigade and air traffic control, as well as licensed
broadcasters, denying listeners their choice of music and news. Illegal
stations cause significant damage to rooftops, resulting in expensive repair
bills at public expense.
Ofcom’s operation ran from 6 to 16 February and resulted in three arrests,
one studio raid, the removal of 22 illegal broadcasters’ transmitters and
over 20 letters sent to local night clubs that have advertised events on
illegal radio stations.
Ofcom estimates that there are over 150 illegal stations operating in the
UK, with half of those broadcasting across London and the South East. There
are over thirty illegal stations across these four boroughs, making up 60%
of all illegal broadcasters in North London.
Ofcom is responsible for keeping radio spectrum free from interference,
taking illegal stations off the air by raiding studios and seizing and
disconnecting transmitters and aerials. Last year, Ofcom carried out over
900 such operations and 37 people were convicted of offences related to
illegal broadcasting.
Robert Thelen-Bartholomew, Director of Field Operations, said: "Illegal
broadcasters can cause serious interference to safety-of-life services such
as the fire brigade and air traffic control, as well as legitimate radio
stations. Ofcom takes swift and firm action to remove these illegal stations
from the air. We work closely with local authorities to ensure that this
problem is tackled at source for the benefit of the community."
Councillor Terry Stacy, Islington Council's Executive Member for Housing and
Communities, said: "Pirate radio stations are a menace and we are pleased to
support this crackdown.
He added, “Islington Council is determined to stop illegal radio stations.
Illegal broadcasters can put lives at risk by interfering with vital
emergency equipment, damage council property and make the lives of our
residents hell. Sometimes these stations are linked to drug-dealing and
serious crime, which we will not tolerate.”
Councillor Nilgun Canver, Haringey’s cabinet member for enforcement and
safer communities, said:
“Pirate radio installations seriously damage our properties when they break
locks and doors into stairwells to access the roofs of council flats from
where they broadcast. We fully support this campaign to stop pirate radio
and our enforcement team is keen to continue working with Ofcom to sort out
this problem.”
London Borough of Tower Hamlets Pirate Radio Project Manager, Claire Demmel
said, "In recent months Tower Hamlets Council and its partners have taken
stringent security steps to prevent illegal broadcasters from gaining access
to our roof tops. Joint operations such as this can only reinforce the
message that we take radio piracy seriously.”
The illegal broadcasters targeted by the Ofcom operation include
Station Location
Attitude 107.4 FM Hackney
Bizim 104.2 FM Haringey
Conshus 106.9 FM Tower Hamlets
Heat 96.6 FM Haringey
Jiggy FM Haringey
Kasapa 104.0 FM Hackney
Kool 94.6 FM Tower Hamlets
Live 101.5 FM Tower Hamlets
Millennium Supreme 99.8 FM Tower Hamlets
Origin 95.2 FM Islington
Rude 88.2 FM Islington
Shine 87.9 FM Tower Hamlets
SLR 97.7 FM Haringey
Takeover 107.7 FM Hackney
Touch 94.0 FM Haringey
True 100.2 FM Hackney
Unidentified Station 102.6 FM Haringey
Xtreme 101.7 FM Haringey
------------------------------------------------
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2008/02/nr_20080219a
Ofcom, police and London Boroughs take action against illegal broadcasting
* three arrested
* twenty two illegal transmitters seized
Ofcom today announced the results of joint operations across four London
boroughs to take illegal radio stations off the air.
Working in partnership with the London Boroughs of Hackney, Haringey, Tower
Hamlets and Islington, as well as the Metropolitan Police, Ofcom’s team
carried out enforcement action against over 20 illegal broadcasters in these
areas.
Illegal broadcasters can cause interference to safety-of-life services, such
as the fire brigade and air traffic control, as well as licensed
broadcasters, denying listeners their choice of music and news. Illegal
stations cause significant damage to rooftops, resulting in expensive repair
bills at public expense.
Ofcom’s operation ran from 6 to 16 February and resulted in three arrests,
one studio raid, the removal of 22 illegal broadcasters’ transmitters and
over 20 letters sent to local night clubs that have advertised events on
illegal radio stations.
Ofcom estimates that there are over 150 illegal stations operating in the
UK, with half of those broadcasting across London and the South East. There
are over thirty illegal stations across these four boroughs, making up 60%
of all illegal broadcasters in North London.
Ofcom is responsible for keeping radio spectrum free from interference,
taking illegal stations off the air by raiding studios and seizing and
disconnecting transmitters and aerials. Last year, Ofcom carried out over
900 such operations and 37 people were convicted of offences related to
illegal broadcasting.
Robert Thelen-Bartholomew, Director of Field Operations, said: "Illegal
broadcasters can cause serious interference to safety-of-life services such
as the fire brigade and air traffic control, as well as legitimate radio
stations. Ofcom takes swift and firm action to remove these illegal stations
from the air. We work closely with local authorities to ensure that this
problem is tackled at source for the benefit of the community."
Councillor Terry Stacy, Islington Council's Executive Member for Housing and
Communities, said: "Pirate radio stations are a menace and we are pleased to
support this crackdown.
He added, “Islington Council is determined to stop illegal radio stations.
Illegal broadcasters can put lives at risk by interfering with vital
emergency equipment, damage council property and make the lives of our
residents hell. Sometimes these stations are linked to drug-dealing and
serious crime, which we will not tolerate.”
Councillor Nilgun Canver, Haringey’s cabinet member for enforcement and
safer communities, said:
“Pirate radio installations seriously damage our properties when they break
locks and doors into stairwells to access the roofs of council flats from
where they broadcast. We fully support this campaign to stop pirate radio
and our enforcement team is keen to continue working with Ofcom to sort out
this problem.”
London Borough of Tower Hamlets Pirate Radio Project Manager, Claire Demmel
said, "In recent months Tower Hamlets Council and its partners have taken
stringent security steps to prevent illegal broadcasters from gaining access
to our roof tops. Joint operations such as this can only reinforce the
message that we take radio piracy seriously.”
The illegal broadcasters targeted by the Ofcom operation include
Station Location
Attitude 107.4 FM Hackney
Bizim 104.2 FM Haringey
Conshus 106.9 FM Tower Hamlets
Heat 96.6 FM Haringey
Jiggy FM Haringey
Kasapa 104.0 FM Hackney
Kool 94.6 FM Tower Hamlets
Live 101.5 FM Tower Hamlets
Millennium Supreme 99.8 FM Tower Hamlets
Origin 95.2 FM Islington
Rude 88.2 FM Islington
Shine 87.9 FM Tower Hamlets
SLR 97.7 FM Haringey
Takeover 107.7 FM Hackney
Touch 94.0 FM Haringey
True 100.2 FM Hackney
Unidentified Station 102.6 FM Haringey
Xtreme 101.7 FM Haringey
------------------------------------------------