UK launches 4-week call on radiofrequency jammers ban

You rely on wireless signals every hour: car keys, shop payments, home Wi‑Fi, even 999 radios. The government has opened a four‑week call for evidence on radiofrequency jammers-devices that block those signals-and is considering making possession illegal. It launched on 10 April 2026 and closes at 11:59pm on 8 May 2026, inviting the public, mobile networks, law enforcement and transport experts to respond. (gov.uk)

A radiofrequency (RF) jammer is a gadget that transmits noise on the same frequencies used by phones, key fobs or tags, drowning out the real message like someone shouting over you. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) says criminals have disguised some devices as everyday tech-such as digital watches-to avoid detection. (gov.uk)

Where does this show up? Thieves can stop cars unlocking, interrupt vehicle trackers or clear work vans before alarms trigger. In shops, jammers can block wireless security tags from talking to exit sensors, letting items slip through without setting anything off. DSIT also warns of interference with mobile coverage used by the public. (gov.uk)

The higher‑risk scenario is public safety. If a jammer blocks the radio networks used by police, ambulance or fire crews-or the timing signals many systems rely on-responses can slow, calls can drop and wider disruption can follow, including around airports. (gov.uk)

Why the fuss now? DSIT cites analysis showing that a week‑long hit to the UK’s positioning, navigation and timing systems could cost up to £7.62 billion. The UK Space Agency’s 2023 research put a 7‑day nationwide GNSS outage at roughly £7.64 billion, with emergency services, maritime and road transport bearing most losses. (gov.uk)

What the law already says matters here. Using or possessing non‑compliant radio equipment is illegal under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006, but DSIT notes it can be hard to prove in the moment that someone used a jammer to cause harmful interference. The call for evidence asks whether simple possession should itself be outlawed to help enforcement. (gov.uk)

This sits alongside the Crime and Policing Bill, which proposes banning articles used to commit serious crime-including electronic devices used in vehicle theft and so‑called SIM farms. The government says possessing or sharing devices used to steal cars could carry penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment. (gov.uk)

Not every use of a jammer is criminal. DSIT points to secure settings such as prisons preventing contraband mobile use, and military exercises where controlled blocking is part of training. The aim of the call is to map out those legitimate needs so any new rules are evidence‑based, proportionate and leave room for clearly defined exceptions. (gov.uk)

Here’s what it means for you. If your key fob suddenly will not lock or unlock in a car park-or several shoppers notice tags fail to alarm at once-interference is one possibility among many. Move a short distance and try again, avoid any confrontation, and if you think a crime is in progress, call 999. For non‑emergencies, note the time and location and contact the police on 101.

You can have your say. Respond online via the government survey, email spectrum@dsit.gov.uk, or write to: Spectrum Team, Digital Infrastructure Directorate, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, 22 Whitehall, London SW1A 2EG. The deadline is 11:59pm on Friday 8 May 2026. (gov.uk)

If you work in retail, logistics, motoring or local government, DSIT is particularly interested in real‑world evidence: harms you have seen, how well current rules deter misuse, and where carefully drawn carve‑outs are genuinely needed. Dates, times and outcomes make your contribution more useful to policymakers. (gov.uk)

For students and teachers, this is a live case study in governing technology. We are being asked to balance safety with fairness: should owning risky kit be an offence, how do we write exceptions without creating loopholes, and what duties on sellers or platforms would reduce misuse while protecting lawful radio work?