What is the legality of this shop selling trackers and discreet voice recorders etc? Seems pretty wild you can just sell that stuff on the high street.
2024-05-11
Text on window states they supply vehicle trackers, discreet audio recorders, secret cameras etc
I bet the various unqualified teenagers on legaladviceuk could probably repeat some random googled information at you if you ask there.
Neither are illegal to own. Its illegal to track someone else’s car, but perfectly legal to to track your own. Also perfectly legal to record people without permission, for personal use.
Spy shops
Existed forever. You can buy mics and cams
And stick them
Everywhere. Adhering to the law is the buyers responsibility
There’s a nice chippy a few doors to the right.
The thing is OP you’re asking this question on a device that tracks your location and records your voice.
There is some stuff that’s illegal to sell in the UK.
I think covert radio receivers and transmitters.
A few years ago most of this stuff was based of mobile phone tech. Not sure about now.
When Samsung or Apple or Amazon sell them it seems to be just fine.
Found this piece in which the owners discuss legality (I was actually interested in finding out where the premises was because those old buildings are lovely). I should have guessed – Leeds.
Leeds!
The legal system is bullshit, selling something isn’t as egregious as using something.
Meanwhile there’s something about Anne Nails that’s bugging me… firstly the name for the business and secondly, it offers
Professional Nails Service ( nail service or nails service?)
Is that chorlton?
Do yourself a favour and head to Pocos for a slice of pizza and a sweet treat
Basically this shop sells everything you can already buy on ebay/amazon/aliexpress, but at double the price.
There are valid use cases for these things. Look at these carers that have been caught abusing elderly people by hidden nanny cams.
Shhhhhhhh
Why would it be illegal? Any cellphone can be used as a tracker, audio recorder, or camera. There’s nothing illegal about owning or selling these products. There are also many legal use-cases for them; for example, a hidden security camera or a recording device with the same purpose, or a tracker on your car or in your handbag in case one of them gets stolen.
Kirkstall Road!!
I remember seeing a clock with a hidden camera in it, in the Matalan catalog
The Spy Shop has been around for decades and been advertising on Private Eye for god knows how long. Originally they might have thought that it was a magazine for private detectives but it seems to have worked for them as they kept doing it.
The Spy Shop used to advertise back in the 90’s in Loot and Exchange and Mart. It’s legal and they’ve been at it for years.
Pop down a few doors to Dave’s Pies and Ale 🙂
If you think someone is spying on you, you can stake out the shop and see if they go in there
Like way back in time when you could only use a GPO phone, fitted by the GPO engineer on your GPO line. But you could buy a phone in a shop and were not legally use it.
26 comments
Selling it? Probably fine.
Using it? Thats where the law comes in.
I bet the various unqualified teenagers on legaladviceuk could probably repeat some random googled information at you if you ask there.
Neither are illegal to own. Its illegal to track someone else’s car, but perfectly legal to to track your own. Also perfectly legal to record people without permission, for personal use.
Spy shops
Existed forever. You can buy mics and cams
And stick them
Everywhere. Adhering to the law is the buyers responsibility
There’s a nice chippy a few doors to the right.
The thing is OP you’re asking this question on a device that tracks your location and records your voice.
There is some stuff that’s illegal to sell in the UK.
I think covert radio receivers and transmitters.
A few years ago most of this stuff was based of mobile phone tech. Not sure about now.
When Samsung or Apple or Amazon sell them it seems to be just fine.
https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/inside-the-spy-shop-in-leeds-that-sells-tracking-devices-and-hidden-cameras-to-the-general-public-4150077
Found this piece in which the owners discuss legality (I was actually interested in finding out where the premises was because those old buildings are lovely). I should have guessed – Leeds.
Leeds!
The legal system is bullshit, selling something isn’t as egregious as using something.
Meanwhile there’s something about Anne Nails that’s bugging me… firstly the name for the business and secondly, it offers
Professional Nails Service ( nail service or nails service?)
Is that chorlton?
Do yourself a favour and head to Pocos for a slice of pizza and a sweet treat
Basically this shop sells everything you can already buy on ebay/amazon/aliexpress, but at double the price.
There are valid use cases for these things. Look at these carers that have been caught abusing elderly people by hidden nanny cams.
Shhhhhhhh
Why would it be illegal? Any cellphone can be used as a tracker, audio recorder, or camera. There’s nothing illegal about owning or selling these products. There are also many legal use-cases for them; for example, a hidden security camera or a recording device with the same purpose, or a tracker on your car or in your handbag in case one of them gets stolen.
Kirkstall Road!!
I remember seeing a clock with a hidden camera in it, in the Matalan catalog
The Spy Shop has been around for decades and been advertising on Private Eye for god knows how long. Originally they might have thought that it was a magazine for private detectives but it seems to have worked for them as they kept doing it.
The Spy Shop used to advertise back in the 90’s in Loot and Exchange and Mart. It’s legal and they’ve been at it for years.
Pop down a few doors to Dave’s Pies and Ale 🙂
If you think someone is spying on you, you can stake out the shop and see if they go in there
Like way back in time when you could only use a GPO phone, fitted by the GPO engineer on your GPO line. But you could buy a phone in a shop and were not legally use it.
Anne Nails and Ronnie Hotdogs