RadioCentre Calls For Government To Crack Down On Pirates

RadioCentre, the radio industry trade body, has called for more government assistance in cracking down on pirate radio stations, following a Commons debate highlighting the problems they cause.

Margaret Hodge, the minister for industry and the regions, admitted in the Commons that the radio industry’s own efforts to close pirate stations were more effective than Ofcom’s.

The debate included details of threats from pirate radio activity, including the near closure of London City Airport following interference to its ground-to-air communications and the involvement of drugs gangs in running some stations.

Of 770 operations conducted by Ofcom, only 58 resulted in prosecutions, and these carried an average fine of £563, although the maximum possible sentence is two years imprisonment.

Paul Brown, RadioCentre chairman, said: “Pirate radio operators steal music copyright, endanger the lives of airline passengers and those needing the help of emergency services, and interfere with the broadcast signals of legal radio services.”