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Written question asked by James Brokenshire (Conservative) on Monday, 12 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 December 2005. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Monday, 16 January 2006 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Illegal Broadcasting

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints Ofcom has received in each of the last five years in relation to (a) pirate radio stations and (b) illegal broadcasts; and how many prosecutions it initiated in each case in each year.
Answer

[holding answer 15 December 2005]: Radio spectrum use under the Wireless and Telegraphy Act is a matter for Ofcom. The information on complaints and prosecutions has therefore been prepared in consultation with the regulator.I am informed by Ofcom their records show that, since 1 April 2002 (when reliable records showing this level of detail began) the yearly figures for complaints received have been:

Number
2002 (April-December) 592
2003 1,085
2004 446
2005 (to date) 966

The figures for completed prosecutions for the same periods are:

Number
2002 (April-December) 23
2003 71
2004 59
2005 38

In recording these details, Ofcom (and its predecessor, the Radiocommunications Agency) draws no distinction between complaints about named pirate radio stations and unidentifiable illegal broadcasts. They record any complaint or allegation of illegal broadcasting in the same way.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
38022; 441 c946W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Complaints Broadcasting Prosecutions Radio Illegal broadcasting
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk