Commish isn't happy with your punctuation...Someone's in for a lover than average grade...

Scrivs, I wasn't having a pop at you.

I was pointing out to Norm (whos in the USA) that we do have the said problems in the UK. You may not hinder people, but i'm sure you know of people who would do anything to get a good picture, this includes the "professional" media, as well as enthusiasts.

Yes I understand you weren't having a pop mate.

I will own up to getting onto fire grounds, not using dubious tactics or getting in the way of the crews but through people I know and asking if it was ok.

There was a stirr with the local brigade about us doing this, all due to health and safety which is understandbable and we understand and have accepted that and we don't go onto fire grounds, we still capture cracking shots even from the cordons.

Our work is now being shown on firefightingnews.com.

slightly I know that it is possible to listen to both American and Australian police scanners online, but it would appear that in America at least, this isn't illegal.

As different people have posted different things, is it legal or illegal to listen to the fire service radio's, and to not chase fire appliances etc?

Thanks.

You can also listen to Air Traffic Control from around the world, one of the most interesting being JFK, no UK airports though

I think in summary it's fine if you listen only, and scanners are legal to possess (uk) but you cannot "act" on the information received whatever "act" means.

I presume act means if you go to the address given to take pictures etc. But then again, if you did go along and anyone asked you, couldn't you just say you were driving along?

Acting on the information, to me, is acting to help with a crime using scanners to listen to the police.

Recently two of my mates were stopped by SO19 as his scanner was showing and he was scanning London Fire Brigade. The officers asked what they were listening to, they said the fire brigade, the officers replied "oh, ok then, on your way" and nothing was done about it.

Turning up to an incident to take a picture is not illegal, its every mans right to walk on a public path and if he/she wants to take a photo then that is upto them. A fire scene is hardly secret, lots of smoke, big red fire engines, blue flashing lights, flame.

Any Police Officers on here ever dealt with an incident involving scanners ?. Or like what we've been threatened with by the fire service, if a firefighter came upto yourselves and said 'we think he's got a scanner', what could you do ?.

I've cought loads of little scrotes with them in their cars using them to listen to us. God bless tetra

Can I assume that your on Airwave or the Irish equivalent Al?

Tetra is Airwave

Airwave is part off and uses the Tetra system but Airwave is just one off many systems that use the Tetra technology. I found the answer elswhere, the Garda are using EADS. In the UK the Tetra system for the fire service will be 'Firelink' To really bore everyone 'Astrid' is the Belgium system and in Sweden they use 'Rakel'

Well to tell the truth unless they said " we think he's got a scanner and he tells the arsonists when we to leg it" I'd be reluctant to do anything, because as far as I'm aware only if you act on info. then it's illegal. Listening is not, so I don't think I could do anything to tell you the truth. As long as you don't go breaking traffic law to get to the incident and don't ignore instructions (such as cordons) and respect people (i.e. don't snap away at injured people) then I don't see a problem in all honesty!