The authorities also have powers of entry, search and seizure, for which they require a warrant. The maximum fine is 'Scale 5' (£5,000 last time I looked) and there is a power to order forfeiture of the kit. The main offence regarding scanners is using WT equipment without authorisation. The two sections of the Terrorism Act I mentioned to in my earlier post deal with possession of articles and the gathering of information (for terrorism purposes) and each carries a 10 year maximum prison sentence.īy way of contrast, the Wireless Telegraphy Act offences are really very minor in criminal law terms. Subject to certain safeguards, the police can detain for a significant period. The powers of detention for questioning under the UK Terrorism legislation are the widest that the UK authorities have. I don't think streaming live RT onto the internet would be tolerated though. Just so long as you are sensible I don't think you'll have your collar felt. Lots and lots of people do it and no one seems to mind. They are publicised in NOTAMs and on stalls selling scanners but I don't think that is a invite from the organisers for everyone to listen. :rolleyes: )Īctually I don't entirely agree with the response from RA about the bit about 'air display frequencies are publicised so it's OK'. (The fact that it mentions me is not the reason I've posted this. Have a look here particularly the third page where there is a response from the Radiocommunication Agency. It was discussed a while a go on the Private Flying forum where someone asked if he could listen to RT to improve his own, a perfectly good and sensible reason one would think. gordonsmall, RTFM and Heathrow Director are spot on, RA169 says it all. Which is all a bit of a nuisance, really :mad: No, using radio equipment to listen in, except as provided by section 5(1)(b) of the WT Act, is an offence, regardless of whether the information is passed on. Isn't it all right to listen as long as I don't pass on what I hear?Ī. The services that you can listen to include Amateur and Citizens' Band transmissions, licensed broadcast radio and weather and navigation broadcasts.

:ugh: See (), which says, inter alia:-Īlthough it is not illegal to sell, buy or own a scanning or other receiver in the UK, it must only be used to listen to transmissions meant for GENERAL RECEPTION. The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (WT Act), unfortunately. On what Legal precedent do you make this statement? My (albeit lose) interpretation of the law in this repsect is that is legal as long as you make no profit or gain from it. Lastly, for anyone who might think something along the lines of 'But what if the terrorists hear it. I'm still 'intercepting' a radio broadcast. How is that different from someone else overhearing my scanner when I'm out at the local airport?Īm I breaking the law by listening to JFKTower's feed (assuming illegal in the UK) all the way over there in America. What if someone did this in the UK? would that be illegal? Even if no money was charged for the 'service' (and it was acknowledged that it wasn't for navigational purposes, just general interest etc etc) ? Now lets consider a fantastic site that I visit often, especially recently when Concorde was doing it's last few movements through JFK: That site has a live real-audio feed of JFK ATC. How about if I have my tape recorder attached to the scanner and I take a tape home to listen to? (I have Air Force One and the last 2 Concorde movements if anyone wants to hear them!!!) Or make an offer like that, letting someone else hear my recording? online? e-mail? 'That last one was Lufthansa from Hamburg, Flight number 8561'. Technically I am spreading what I have heard, allowing others to listen to my reception of the radio. I have my anorak on, flask of hot soup under one arm, camera under the other, I'm standing under the approach at LHR listening to my scanner and someone else who is near me hears it. Simple question first: Is it illegal in the UK to listen to Air Traffic Control on the Civil Airband on a receive-only scanner? I have tried contacting the Radio Communications Agency but getting information from them is very slow so I thought I'd ask here for some help. I'm looking for some clarification of laws here.

Listen to atc