COMBATING PIRATE RADIO

Hornchurch and Rainham MP James Brokenshire will use a Parliamentary debate on Monday (1st June) to call for a more co-ordinated approach from Government to combat illegal 'pirate' radio stations.  Rather than the anti-establishment image of pirate radio stations of the 1960s, today's illegal broadcasters are more likely to be linked to organised crime. Some stations are well organised criminal businesses generating as much as £0.25 million in cash a year. The broadcasting regulator Ofcom estimate that at any one time there are up to 90 illegal stations transmitting in London with 150 nationwide.

Signals from illegal broadcasters not only interfere with legitimate radio stations but can also disrupt emergency and critical services including National Air Traffic Services.    The installation of transmission equipment and the damage caused is also resulting in some local authorities forking out as much as £250,000 a year in repairs.  In order to protect installations, illegal broadcasters have been known to booby trap roof access doors with live mains and by securing razor blades, syringes and broken glass to roof access ladders.

James Brokenshire first raised his concerns in Parliament three years ago, but feels that not much progress has been made since then.  Commenting James said:

"Films like 'The Boat that Rocked' paint a nostalgic, rose-tinted image of illegal stations.  Today's reality is very different with illegal broadcasters linked to money laundering, drugs supply and firearms offences.
 
"Part of the problem is that this is simply seen as a revenue issue equivalent to not paying your TV licence.  Consequently the fines issued by the courts are little more than a small running cost to these illegal businesses. It's much more serious than that with real risk of harm to the public and kids being exploited by paying for the 'privilege' of broadcasting on one of these illegal stations. 

"Ofcom is doing what it can with raids and prosecutions but the illegal broadcasters have remained pretty constant.  We need a much more co-ordinated strategy from Government as current efforts simply aren't working effectively to combat this serious menace."

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