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Concept News

Pirate Files

Compiled by Jim Lowe from Newspaper Articles


Radio Merseywaves 1242 Khz.


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Liverpool Echo 28th November 1985

Pirate radio men charged

Moreton - based pirate radio station Merseywaves has been raided by government officials who have confiscated 1,300 Pounds worth of equipment and hundreds of records. Nine men from the Department of Trade and Industry pounced on Sunday afternoon. Two men were arrested and will appear in court next month.

Merseywaves say the two events it is holding in New Brighton and Birkenhead will still take place. The under 18's night out at the Golden Guinea, New Brighton will go ahead, as will the over 18's night at Atmosphere on December 10th.

(Liverpool Echo 28/11/85)

Radio pirate caught on the air.

A PIRATE radio station interfered with transmissions by Liverpool's Radio City. And when the independent station made a complaint, an investigation was launched by officers representing the radio investigation team from the Department of Trade.

A total of 10 people were summoned before Wirral magistrates yesterday in connection with the running of Radio Merseywave. In nine cases adjournments were requested and agreed. In the lOth "Dave Collins", admitted using a station for wireless telegraphy without a licence.

Miss Christine Bradley, prosecuting. said there was considerable concern over overlapping of frequencies because of pirate stations and also concern over interference with emergency services Miss Bradley said Merseywave transmitted over a 30 miles radius. She said it was a powerful radio. It was very organised and not run for a hobby. It had been in existence for about 10 years.

When officers went to the address of "Collins", music was being played on 1242 KZ on the medium wave band. It ceased when they knocked on the door. "Collins", who was present claimed he was just a visitor and said he was "only recording" but later he admitted he had been broadcasting. The transmitter was found hidden inside a bed settee suite on which he was sitting. It was seized along with other equipment and 118 single records and seven cassettes. Mr Ken Spectre, defending, said "Collins" and many of the others involved with the station were unemployed. They did not make a penny out of running the station which provided a service to the community and advertised charities.

Mr Spectre said the records seized were a lifetime collection. The magistrates allowed the records and cassettes to be returned but ordered that all the equipment seized be forfeited. "Collins" was unconditionally discharged, for two years but was ordered to pay costs totalling 231 Pounds.

(Liverpool Echo, Thursday September 17th 1987)


Wirral Globe Thursday 24th September 1987

Jobless Turned To Pirate Radio To Relieve Boredom

A group of people, mostly unemployed, broadcast on the pirate Birkenhead station Radio Merseywaves to help relieve boredom from living on the estate at Woodchurch, commented Mr. Kenneth Spectre, defending, at Wirral Magistrates' court.

Department of Trade investigators made inquiries after publicity about the station and a complaint from Radio City who said their own transmissions were being interrupted. "Dave Collins", aged 24, of Woodchurch, faced the court. He admitted using a station for wireless telegraphy when not a licence holder. Nine other people were summoned on various matters but their cases were adjourned.

Miss Christine Bradley, prosecuting, claimed the station was well organised and not run as a hobby. It had a thirty miles radius. There was concern at overlapping of frequencies by pirate stations who did not pay a fee and also concern at interference to emergency services. "Collins" had been broadcasting when investigators went to his flat. They confiscated all the equipment found and also I19 records and seven cassettes belonging to "Collins".

Mr Spectre said the station broadcast music and advertised charities. "Collins" did not make a penny out of it. Broadcasts had now ceased and there was no need to pillory the accused. The Magistrates agreed all the equipment be forfeited but they said the records and cassettes which were a lifetime collection by the defendant would be returned. He was granted a conditional discharge for two years but had to pay costs of 231 Pounds

Wirral Globe Thursday 24th September 1987


Wirral News 10th May 1989

'Keith The Cheif' Pirate DJ Fined.

A pirate radio disc jockey had his equipment confiscated by Wirral magistrates. "Keith The Cheif" 27, of Moreton used the name "Keith the Chief," was also fined 200Pounds by the magistrates after he admitted using a station, Radio Merseywaves for wireless telegraphy without a licence. He had to pay 150 Pounds costs. Items confiscated included a twin tape deck, a stereo cassette player and recorder and an amplifier.

"Keith" was questioned after members of the Radio Investigation Service raided a flat in Birkenhead after letters of complaint about interference to reception had been received.

Mr. David Moore, defending, said the defendant was a full-time technician with a local company. His spare time and his spare cash were used along with others to run Radio Merseywaves. The station had its uses. It campaigned actively against drugs and for safe sex following the AIDS scare. It had been involved in many worthwhile charity events and had helped bring together the community.

The Government now had plans for Community Radio, but "Keith" and his colleagues "had jumped the gun." In any case they were only enthusiasts and amateurs and would not be able to afford the vast fees likely to be requested.

"Keith" had a previous, similar conviction for running the same illegal station.

Wirral News 10th May 1989


Liverpool Echo, Wednesday May 3rd 1989

Disk Jockey Unsaddled

Pirate disk jockey "Keith the Chief" has landed in a spin.

"The Chief aged 27 of Moreton. pleaded guilty to using a wireless station - Radio Merseywaves; - for wireless telegraphy without a Iicence. He was fined 200 Pounds and also had to pay 150 Pounds costs

The magistrates confiscated equipment seized including a twin tape deck, a stereo cassette player and recorder and an amplifier. "Keith" had a previous similar conviction involving the same station.

Liverpool Echo, Wednesday May 3rd 1989


Liverpool Daily Post, September 17th 1987

Pirate has his records returned

COMPLAINTS by Radio City led to a pirate of the airwaves appearing before Wirral Magistrates. The independent station made a complaint about Radio Merseywave interfering with transmissions. An investigation followed by officers representing the radio investigation team from the Department of Trade A total of 10 people were summoned in connection with the running of Radio Merseywave. In nine cases adjournments were requested and agreed. In the lOth case "Dave Collins" (24); of Woodchurch, admitted using a station for wireless telegraphy without a licence.

When officers went to the Woodchurch address of "Collins", music was being played on the medium wave band. It ceased when they knocked on the door. "Collins" who was present claimed he was just a visitor and said he was only recording, but later he admitted he had been broadcasting. The transmitter was found hidden inside a bed settee suite on .which he was sitting. It was seized along with other equipment and 119 single records and seven cassettes.

The magistrates allowed the records and cassettes to be returned, but ordered that all the equipment seized be forfeited. "Collins" was unconditionally discharged for 2 years but was ordered to pay costs totalling 231 Pounds.

(Liverpool Daily Post, September 17th 1987)


Wirral News 23rd September 1987

Radio pirates scuppered after City tip-off call

RADIO Merseywaves, Birkenhead's pirate radio station, ran into trouble because of a complaint by Radio City. Ten people were summonsed at Wirral Magistrates Court following inquiries by the Radio Investigation Service at the Department of Trade . and Industry.

Nine cases were adjourned but, the tenth, "Dave Collins"aged 24, of Woodchurch, admitted using a station for wireless telegraphy without a licence. ' Miss Chrlstine Bradley, prosecuting,said the Radio City complaint followed newspaper publicity given to the pirate set-up. City also maintained that their own transmissions were being interrupted. The department was very concerned at overlapping of frequencies caused by pirate statlons and interference to emergency services.

Miss Bradley said ' Radio Merseywaves transmitted over a 30-mile radius. It was a powerful radio, well organised, and not run for a hobby.

The investigators went to a block of flats at Woodchurch and discovered music being transmitted on 1242 KHz on the Medium Waveband. When they knocked on the door the transmission ceased. "Collins" opened the door. He used the DJ name of Dave Collins. Miss Bradley said there was a studio in the flat and various items of equipment. Humphreys said it did not belong to him. He was a visitor to the flat and was only recording. Later he admitted: '"Okay, I was broadcasting"

The transmitter was discovered inside a bed settee suite on which "Collins" had been sitting. Mr Ken Spectre, defending, said "Collins" and other involved did not make a penny out of their activities. He was unemployed like many others. The organisation broadcast music and advertised charities. It was a worthwhile cause and a way to relieve boredom when when living on the estate. The broadcasts had now ceased and there was no need to pillory the accused.

The magistrates agreed to confiscate all the equipment but returned to "Collins" the records and cassettes which Mr Spectre said were a lifetime collection and important to him. "Collins" was conditionally discharged for two years but had to pay 231 Pounds costs.

Wirral News 23rd September 1987


WIRRAL GLOBE THURSDAY l8th December 1986

In defence of `Merseywaves'

I would like to take this opportunity to dispel any malicious rumours which may have been circulating about Radio Merseywaves.

Certain people are under the impression that all pirate or "free" radio stations around the country are a menace to society in that they accused of interfering with the emergency service on Radio wavebands. As I can now point out this is not true in certain cases. Radio Merseywaves broadcast on the frequency of 244 medium wave or.l233 kHz .

May I point out that there are no emergency services which broadcast on medium wave. Due to technical reasons They operate on the VHF waveband, therefore at the moment, Radio Maseywaves are in no way causing a hazard to emergency services.. In fact in my opinion there are other services in the community which interfere with radios more than free radio stations, one of which is taxis.

I would also like to point out that much hard work and many hours go into producing the shows which Radio Merseywaves broadcasts each Friday, Saturday,Sunday and Monday . Nearly all the DJ's on the station are well established Jocks working in venues around the Merseyside area and are not irresponsible as people might think Merseywaves DJ's are willing to promote charity events taking place in the Merseyside area and have also raised money on numerous occasions. Radio Merseywaves is not funded in any way and all expenses are paid for by the disc jockeys out of their own pockets.

If anyone has any opinions or wishes to tell me what they think of Radio Merseywaves and what we can do to improve the service, I will be very pleased to hear from them c/o the mailing address

Dave Benitez (Merseywaves DJ)

Wirral Globe Thursday 18th December 1986


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