Community service or a threat to society?
Birmingham Race Riots: Full video reportKey Facts
- There are over 80 pirate stations in London alone, with over 150 across England.
- Over the last year more than 177 stations have been targeted with the intentions of having them closed down.
- It takes approximately £3,000 to kit out a studio as well as buying a transmitter. According to Peter Moore of Radio Caroline, it could require over £25,000 a year to become a legal digital radio station.
- Some stations are able to make up to £5,000 a week in advertising revenue.
- Several stations are said to charge up and coming DJs a fee of between £10 and £20 per hour for the privilege of playing.
- Around 125 members of staff work in the fields operation unit at Ofcom, to monitor the airwaves.
- Ofcom claims that many pirate stations are linked to organised crime.