Pirate station back on air days after shutdown (Rude FM 88.2 & Origin 95.1)

27 February 2008 A PIRATE radio station which was branded a "menace" for putting lives at risk was back on air just two days after Islington Council pulled the plug on it. Rude 88.2 FM - which has broadcast 24-hour drum and bass from a secret location in Islington since 1992 - was one of two illegal broadcasters shut down in a council-backed operation by communications regulator Ofcom last week. Councillor Terry Stacy, deputy leader of Islington Council, said: "Pirate radio stations are a menace. Illegal broadcasters put lives at risk by interfering with vital emergency services' equipment, damage council property and make the lives of our residents hell. Sometimes these stations are linked to drug-dealing and serious crime, which we will not tolerate." But less than 48 hours after having its transmitter dismantled, Rude was back on the dial and broadcasting on its illegal FM waveband in a swift turnaround which Ofcom admitted was "not unusual". A spokeswoman said: "These operations take a lot of planning. We aim to take illegal broadcasters off the air as soon as possible but they may have other transmitters or be worried about losing their studio. Unfortunately that's not unusual - it's a constant battle."

An Islington-based DJ with pirate radio experience, who asked not to be named, said: "It doesn't matter how many times they try and lock stations down, they'll be back on air within days. DJs pay a weekly subscription to their stations so there's always a pot of money to replace any equipment that gets impounded.

"The authorities are fighting a losing battle and they might as well open up the airwaves for everyone, not just greedy companies. Kids DJ on pirate radio for the love of the music, and if that's not a positive influence I don't know what is. Would they prefer it if the DJs were hanging round on street corners causing trouble?"

Seven well-established pirate radio stations are known to operate in Islington, often broadcasting from tower blocks by feeding their transmitters into the electricity supply. Braithwaite House and Godfrey House, in Clerkenwell, and Iberia House, Monroe House and Redwood Court, in Archway, were all targeted in the operation.

Underground rave station Origin 95.2 - which has been broadcasting for nine years from a location believed to be in Holloway - was also silenced as part of the Ofcom crackdown. It too was back on air by Sunday.

Doug Goldring, director of Homes for Islington (HfI), which runs council housing in the borough, said: "Tackling the pirates is a continuing challenge as they will often set up several transmitters, work across boroughs and will break onto roofs and damage buildings to get back on the air. HfI will continue to remove their equipment as it is found and work with Ofcom, the council and neighbouring boroughs to close them down."

Ofcom officers also swooped in Haringey, Hackney and Tower Hamlets with three people being arrested following a studio raid and 22 transmitters removed in total.