Edit: Yes. For those of you, like me, who didn't get beyond the first few paragraphs, the article itself makes clear that this is illegal in the U.K. as well. Thanks k1t.
> The problem is, radio jammers are very illegal in the UK. Deliberate interference—even in a theatre, cinema, library, or examination hall—is an offence under the Wireless Telegraphy Act and can land you in jail for a couple of years, and/or an unlimited fine.
Specific policy page from Ofcom: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/radio-spectrum-and-the-law...
They are legal to use in prisons and have been since the passage of the Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Act 2012. https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/prisonsinterfer...
There's also an issue of EU law. 1999/5/EC, aka. "R&TTE", the Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive, makes it illegal to sell a mobile phone jammer in the EU marketplace. See the last section of https://web.archive.org/web/20140312031150/http://ec.europa....
I'm presuming that this rather ridiculous chief superintendent is suggesting that the law ought to be amended so that wi-fi (and perhaps cellular network) blockers affixed to those convicted of hacking-related offences would be permitted.
There's no reason Parliament couldn't do that if it decided to, even if the likelihood of Parliament and Ofcom agreeing to such an arrangement is highly improbable.
Also, a magical wi-fi and cell blocker that stops some teenage hacker hooking up to the Internet without affecting the people they run in to is going to be impossible to build. Good luck when someone co-opts said blocker to block police AirWave TETRA radio while doing their nefarious deeds over a long piece of Cat 5.