OFCOM Lose Amateur Radio Abuse Cases.

Organisations like OFCOM like to publicise successes, but not often failures.


Word has recently reached me as follows:

"Ofcom have recently had a failed prosecution as the defendant claimed “aggravation” and “exacerbation” by repeater users had lead [sic] him to his actions. 

The result of this ruling is that any on-air discussions or other acknowledgement of any form of abuse can be used as a successful defence for the behaviour. It is more important than ever that we never acknowledge or discuss abuse on air and definitely never respond to an abuser. 

Ofcom have been monitoring repeater traffic in the two ongoing cases we discussed but in each case had heard amateur users of the repeaters responding to the abuse, this has resulted in their resources being diverted elsewhere as the evidence they are collating will not be able to support any formal action."

So now you know!  If you hear someone messing about, don't respond, seems to be the right legal response.