Is Target Blu Eye Legal in the UK? (Short answer: Yes.)

TL;DR

  • Blu Eye doesn’t decode or listen in to emergency-service radio messages. It only detects the presence of a TETRA/Airwave radio nearby. That’s why it’s legal to use.

  • UK law criminalises interception of message contents and deliberate interference. Blu Eye does neither: it doesn’t intercept content and doesn’t transmit or jam anything. GOV.UK

  • It’s a passive, receive-only awareness gadget. We also comply with the UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (UKCA/technical conformity obligations). GOV.UK

What Blu Eye actually does (in one breath)

Blu Eye looks for the tiny, periodic “heartbeat” that TETRA radios exchange with the network. It doesn’t decode, doesn’t identify who’s who, and doesn’t interfere with communications. When it senses that benign heartbeat, it gives you an audio/visual nudge to be extra aware—useful around marked and unmarked vehicles, ambulances, fire appliances, and more.

The law in a nutshell (without the dusty wig)

UK radio law draws two big red lines:

  1. No snooping on contents.
     Section 48 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 makes it an offence to use apparatus with intent to obtain information as to the contents, sender, or addressee of a message if you’re not an intended recipient—and to disclose such information. Blu Eye never reaches message contents; it simply senses that a radio is nearby. That’s not interception. GOV.UK

  2. No interference.
     Section 68 makes it an offence to use apparatus to interfere with wireless telegraphy. Blu Eye doesn’t transmit and can’t jam anything; it’s a passive receiver. So there’s no interference to begin with. GOV.UK

Bonus reality check: Airwave/TETRA is encrypted and designed to be secure—that’s why listening to police comms is illegal and practically impossible. Blu Eye doesn’t even try to listen; it just notices the radio “is there.” GOV.UK

Manufacturer statement (for your “but is it really legal?” friend)

Both our official FAQ and UK dealer materials state it plainly: Blu Eye cannot decode Airwave messages and is legal to use—because it only informs you that an emergency-service radio is nearby and doesn’t single out which service. That’s exactly how we designed it

Compliance housekeeping (the boring bits lawyers love)

Blu Eye is supplied in line with the UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (the UK’s implementation of the radio conformity regime). Importers/distributors must ensure proper conformity assessment and UKCA/labeling obligations are met; we do. Translation: the box is legit before it hits your dashboard. GOV.UK

Common myths—debunked (with a wink)

  • “So it’s a police scanner?”
     Nope. Scanners try to receive content. Blu Eye doesn’t receive content at all; it just senses the presence of a TETRA radio. No content, no problem. (See s.48—what’s banned is content interception.) GOV.UK

  • “Isn’t anything that spots police illegal?”
     UK law targets interception and interference—not lawful, passive awareness tools. Blu Eye is strictly passive and non-interfering. GOV.UK

  • “Can it decode Airwave?”
     Hard no. Airwave is a secure, encrypted TETRA system (TEA2/TEA3 etc.). We couldn’t (and wouldn’t) decode even if we tried—and we don’t. TCCA

  • “So it’s a radar detector, then?”
     Also no. It doesn’t detect speed cameras or police speed-measurement equipment. It’s a driver-awareness gadget for emergency-service proximity—full stop. (And for the avoidance of doubt, laser jammers are illegal; Blu Eye is not that.) GOV.UK


Why this matters (the serious bit)

Airwave/TETRA is the life-saving mission-critical system used across UK blue-light agencies: it must be secure, resilient, and reliable in the worst moments. That’s why content is protected in law and why we built Blu Eye to stay well on the right side of that law—awareness without access. GOV.UK


One paragraph you can quote to a sceptic

Target Blu Eye is legal in the UK because it is a passive, non-interfering receiver that does not intercept message contents (Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 s.48) and does not transmit or jam (s.68). It cannot decode Airwave/TETRA messages and only indicates the presence of an emergency-service radio—exactly as confirmed in our official materials and consistent with UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 compliance. GOV.UK


Friendly closing nudge

Use Blu Eye to notice blue lights sooner, make space faster, and keep everyone safer. It’s legal, it’s polite—and it’s your co-pilot for not being that driver. 🚗✨


Sources (clickable)

  • Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (s.48 interception; s.68 interference) — legislation.gov.uk (PDF). GOV.UK

  • Airwave is secure/resilient — UK Government guidance. GOV.UK

  • Airwave encryption (TEA2/TEA3 history) — TCCA/Airwave note. TCCA

  • Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (GB) & guidance — GOV.UK (obligations/UKCA). GOV.UK

(Informational only—this isn’t legal advice. If you need a formal opinion for a specific use case, ask a lawyer. We’ll bring the biscuits.)