UK Scanner Legal Guidance from
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/enforcement/ofw156x
Guidance on Receive-Only Radio Scanners
General reception
This sets out the legal position about the reception of personal or business radio transmissions by unauthorised persons or groups.
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
b 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.
Unauthorised reception
Section 49(1), (2) and (3) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 makes it an offence if a person "otherwise than under the authority of a designated person", either:
"(i) uses any wireless telegraphy apparatus with intent to obtain information as to the contents, sender or addressee of any message whether sent by means of wireless telegraphy or not, of which neither the person using the apparatus nor a person on whose behalf he is acting is an intended recipient"
This means that it is illegal to listen to anything other than general reception transmissions unless you are either a licensed user of the frequencies in question or have been specifically authorised to do so by a designated person. A designated person means:
a. the Secretary of State;
b. the Commissioners of Customs and Excise; or
c. any other person designated for the purpose by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
or:
(ii) except in the course of legal proceedings or for the purpose of any report thereof, discloses any information as to the contents, sender or addressee of any such message, being information which would not have come to his knowledge but for the use of wireless telegraphy apparatus by him or by another person."
This means that it is also illegal to tell a third party what has been heard.
With certain exceptions, it is an offence under Section 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for a person - "intentionally and without lawful authority to intercept, at any place in the United Kingdom, any communication in the course of its transmission by means of:
a. a public postal service; or
b. a public telecommunication system."
It is similarly an offence to intercept any communication in the course of its transmission by means of a private telecommunication system. This means that it is illegal to listen to telephone calls, including mobile phone networks which are designated as forming part of the public telecommunications system.
Common questions answered
Question: Am I breaking the law by owning a scanner?
Answer: No, but it is illegal to use one to listen to frequencies other than general reception transmissions or those parts of the radio spectrum which your transmitting licence, if you have one, allows you to use. You could be prosecuted for this.
Question: Can I get a licence to use a scanner?
Answer: No, there is no scanner licence.
Question: Could I get authority to listen to emergency service transmissions, for example? I am interested and might be able to help.
Answer: No, authority is reserved for people acting under statutory authority. If you wish to listen in to messages, you should obtain the permission of the person sending them.
Question: Isn't it all right to listen as long as I don't pass on what I hear?
Answer: No, using radio equipment to listen in, except as provided by section 5(1)b of the WT Act, is an offence, regardless of whether the information is passed on.
Question: Isn't this all a bit heavy?
Answer: No. No-one likes their private or business conversations to be listened to. Parliament has passed these laws to protect the privacy of radio users.