Listening to cops on FM.

[Raditechman]

I live fairly near to Heathrow airport and sometimes often see groups of planespotters around the airport perimeter with cameras, and also with radios listening to the various airport channels.
The police or security pass by and take no action, yet I imagine listening to the air traffic control is illegal.

John

[Old Sparky]

Perhaps, as with other things, acting on information heard is illegal. Many, if not all Radios having an 'Air band' are also equipped with AM &/or FM Broadcast Bands. Is this done to ensure they can legally be sold in the UK, perhaps?.

[Crackle]

When I was about 10 years old we had one of these radios, a KB "International" KR016. http://kbmuseum.org.uk/kb_images/kr016/kr016.htm
It was very good at receiving the Police! I remember once I heard one message mention "Laindon High Rd" and I turned the radio off quick, thinking they may have known I was listening, and were on their way to my house.

Mike

[Terry]

I was always fascinated by the choice of call sign for the Essex police - VG - which doesn't seem to be connected with Essex in any way I can work out!

[Murphyv310]

Those little RTL dongles can be turned into an SDR radio. Although there is virtually no front end filtering they work reasonably well.
I monitor band 1 on mine and have received a few DX Sp-e Russians this year. They tune from around 40mhz to at least 2.5ghz. Still a lot there if you've the patience to try.

[BusyBee]

I remember out in the sticks it was a communial affair to listen to police radio, often with several people grouped around a transistor radio generally chatting, but ready for an incoming message. Often on warm summer Sunday evenings before Luxembourg came alive.