A mate of mine was told by the fire service that if he turned up to any fire brigade incidents to take photographs, that were not in the media they would call the police and have him arrested for using a scanner.

How can they prove he was using a scanner?, If they thought you did have a scanner could they search you and your car? If you had a scanner without the frequencies on could they do anything?

and if they did find out you were scanning the fire service radio what would the consequences be?.

Scanners are illegal in the UK? Perfectly legal here.

Scanners are not illegal to possess, however if you act on any information received then that is an offence, like chasing the emergency services around and turning upto jobs.

A licence is not required to use a radio receiver or scanner as long as it is not capable of transmission. It is not illegal to sell, buy or own a scanner or any other receiver but it must only be used to listen to transmissions meant for general reception. The services that can be listened to under the definition of general reception are:

a) licensed broadcasting stations
amateur and citizens' band radio transmissions
c) weather and navigation transmissions

It is an offence to listen to any other radio services unless licensed to do so, this includes listening to illegal radio stations (pirates) by virtue of the fact that they are not licensed radio stations.

It is an offence under Section 5 (1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 to use a scanner to listen to any other radio service (this includes any aeronautical, maritime, emergency service, armed forces, business or mobile telephone transmission), without the authority of the Secretary of State, or the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

Not sure what the penalties for the offence are, but they definitely involve the siezure of your equipment.


Turning up, taking pictures at fires isn't on really, especially if the photographer is getting in the way of the firefighters. I know if my house caught fire and someone turned up taking photos, i'd smash their camera over their head!

Thank god/allah/budda etc for TETRA!

Watch out people at RIAT!

Although, for them to say that if he turned up to a job he would be arrested for scanning seems a bit of a shot in the dark, there's no evidence there from what I can see.

Anyone with a scanner tuned in on the emergency serices is SAD!

Not really, my wife is a Cop and I get a kick out of hearing her on the radio.

Can you keep what you do in private to yourself please Norm

Thing is Norm, over yours, its legal, so not a problem. You have "ambulance chasers", eg Lawyers, but ours literally do chase the emergency services around to take pictures of a scene or have a good look. Thats what "DW was referring to.

We have the new TETRA airwave system that can't be scanned (yet), and most of the UKs emergency services are moving over to this system, but some fire brigades and ambulance services still suffer from people not just listening, but acting on it. There have been a few cases of Bogus Paramedics turning up to incidents and doing more harm than good.

Thanks for your replies.

Rob, with respect, we do have hearts and dont take pictures of peoples houses burning to the ground, and we're not thick so why would we interfere with the work of the brigades ? cordons are there and we stay behind them, and I don't need this discussion about why people take pictures and all this, but each to their own. I'm sure everyone has a hobby.

This topic wasn't to slag off people who have a hobby, just a question about scanners.

Thanks.

Here, the airwaves have been declared public property. With the exception of some secure channels, military channels, etc, anyone can listen. I got the freqs by calling the radio room.

I just wanted to share Dick.

Shouldn't that be i just wanted to share, Dick (never forget the comma)

LOL, good point.

ha ha ha