In the same way that someone with an angle grinder, crowbar and torch is going equipped to steal, surely there’s no reason why the possession of a signal jammer should not be a criminal offence?
Stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) expert, Tracker Network UK Limited, is welcoming the government’s open call for evidence regarding the impact of radiofrequency jammers when used by criminals. It is urging all automotive stakeholders – drivers, car theft victims, manufacturers, dealers and insurance providers – to share their views before the 8th May 2026 deadline.
In the case of vehicle theft, these inexpensive jamming devices are used to disrupt on the vehicle’s onboard GPS tracking signals to and from GPS satellite devices, allowing a stolen and tracked vehicle to disappear in plain sight.
The current Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 requires police to have evidence of a jammer being used to interfere with a signal before an arrest can be made, but this is not always easy to prove. Proposed new laws give police greater power to crack down on the possession of jammers, for example entering a premises without the need for a warrant, even in the absence of any evidence that the device has been used in a crime.
Mark Rose, Managing Director of Tracker comments, “We are increasingly finding GPS jammers at recovery sites when we locate Tracker activated stolen vehicles. Whether these vehicles are hidden in containers, chop shops or even hidden in underground locations, police are able to track them using our technology. The legislation proposed by the UK government will give frontline police more jurisdiction and have a significant positive impact on the scale of vehicle theft. Government’s call for evidence is a clear signal that it is ready to make much needed change.
“The wider range of contributions received, the more informed the government will be when making its important final decision. We are calling on everyone who owns a vehicle, those who have been a victim of GPS jamming and those that work in the automotive sector, to have their say, share their experiences and their views so that we have the best chance of stopping these criminals from stealing vehicles and profiting from the thefts.”
To ensure frontline police officers are equipped with the knowledge needed to capitalise on the impending changes in legislation, Tracker has been supporting the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership (NVCRP) to deliver vital training to help police keep pace with the technologies employed by thieves. Determined criminals are highly innovative and adaptable, switching tactics rather than disappearing altogether when one method is no longer practical. Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison for Tracker explains, “Signal jamming and similar tools exploit the normal operation of wireless systems in ways that are often invisible and technically complex.
“Without suitable training, officers could struggle to identify when these existing and emerging technologies have been used, understand how systems have been compromised, or gather the evidence needed to prosecute. As criminal methods evolve alongside consumer technology, the NVCRP training programme will provide ongoing education and awareness in digital and electronic theft compromise systems.”
Tracker’s SVR devices work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. It formally works in partnership with every police force across the U.K. to track and locate stolen vehicles. More than 2,000 police patrol vehicles and all police helicopters are fitted with Tracker detection units.
In 2025 Tracker and U.K. police reported a 55% increase in the total number of stolen cars they jointly recovered, with a total value of £41.3 million – an all-time record. What’s more, 200 non-Tracker fitted vehicles that had been stolen were also recovered and returned to their rightful owners as a result of Tracker’s SVR success. Confirming Tracker as a superior security defense against determined thieves, Tracker boasts a 95% success rate, 50% of which are recovered within 4 hours and 80% are returned to their owners within 24 hours.
This call for evidence is seeking views on radiofrequency jammers and the UK legal framework that applies to them. We would like your views on:
- the harms caused by illegal use and possession of radiofrequency jammers
- how effective current laws and enforcement are in terms of deterrence and enforcement
- whether changes, including around possession, may be needed
We also would like to understand the legitimate uses of radiofrequency jammers. The evidence you provide will help inform policy development.
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