Both people, a man and a woman, were arrested in
Redditch in Worcestershire in two unrelated incidents weeks apart.
Local police said that residents should make sure their wireless
networks are encrypted to avoid others using their systems.
On Saturday police were called to a house because a man was
sitting inside a car using a laptop computer with cardboard around
his windows. Suspicious neighbours called the police, who found
that he was using the wireless internet signal from one of the
houses.
Using someone else's wireless internet service without their
permission breaks the Communications Act, which prohibits
dishonestly obtaining a communications service.
Communications Act 2003, section
125
Dishonestly obtaining electronic communications services
(1) A person who-
(a) dishonestly obtains an electronic communications service,
and
(b) does so with intent to avoid payment of a charge applicable to
the provision of that service,
is guilty of an offence.
While many people may not mind someone using some of their
bandwidth, allowing someone else to use a network presents a risk
for the network owner.
Struan Robertson, editor of OUT-LAW.COM and a technology lawyer
with Pinsent Masons, said: "The illegal acts of a stranger, such as
hacking or visiting sites containing child pornography, will be
traced to the network owner. That owner stands a good chance of
losing his computer while it undergoes forensic examination to
clear his name. But the worst-case scenario is to be wrongly
accused of the crime."
Officer Tony Humphreys of West Mercia Police said: "Wireless
networks don't stop at the walls of your home – and so without the
necessary protection, your neighbours or people in the road outside
may be able to connect to your network. This might slow down your
internet service, or more importantly, your internet connection
could be used for unlawful purposes."
"We want people to be aware that this is possible and to be
vigilant themselves regarding their own broadband connections,"
said Humphreys.
The second Redditch case involved a woman who was arrested for
similar activity last month. She was also cautioned but not
charged.
Such cases are still relatively rare, and many users are not
aware that using other networks is against the law.
In 2005 Gregory Staszkiewicz was fined £500 and sentenced to 12
months' conditional discharge for the same offence in London's
Isleworth Crown Court.
Police said that wireless internet users should follow their
ISP's instructions on how to secure their home networks.
