Pirate radio in the United Kingdom A number of DJs of the newly created pop music service BBC Radio 1 came from pirate stations. The UK Government also closed the international waters loophole via the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act of 1967, although Radio Caroline continued to broadcast (with some sizeable off-air periods between 1968 and 1972 and 1980–83) until 1990. The 1967 Marine Broadcasting Offences Act officially outlawed offshore stations, but unlicensed radio continued, moving from ships and sea-based platforms to urban areas in the latter part of the 1960s (they were already illegal under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949). During this period, home-made medium wave
Pirate radio in the United Kingdom Community Radio, especially in areas such as London with a concentration of pirate radio stations. As such, a number of former pirate radio stations have made the transition to legal broadcasting through community radio licenses, such as Rinse FM, Kane FM, and most recently Flex FM. Others have embraced internet radio, whether that be in addition to radio transmitting, or moving towards it as their primary broadcasting medium. However, some remain skeptical of the ability of the local community and pirate broadcasters to make the move to legal status. The first political radio station was Radio Free Scotland, which illegally