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German Mickey Mouse radio snoops on cops

Kids tune into Polizei chatter

The German powers that be are investigating a kids' miniature Mickey Mouse radio which apparently entertains nippers with police radio traffic.

The Chinese-made novelty came with issue 12 of Micky Maus magazine, which hit newsstands last week. Parents reported the eavesdropping to cops, who picked up a few copies to check out the device.

Hamburg police spokescopper Ulrike Sweden confirmed to the Hamburger Morgenpost: “We’ve received reports and detectives are finding out whether it’s in violation of telecommunications law."

A representative of publisher Ehapa Verlag insisted the radio had been “scrupulously tested at an institute for toy safety” and "should only be able to tune into normal radio stations". According to the German branch of The Local, a further statement posted last Friday on the Mickey Maus website assured concerned parents that the cases were "isolated".

The statement further offered a typically Teutonic solution to inadvertent Polizei-snooping, ordering the magazine's readers: “The radio is exclusively designed for listening to music. Everything else is not allowed." ®

Bootnote

The usual ta very much to Mike Richards for the tip-off. Mike: Thanks too for the offer of the Icelandic two-headed sheep link. I'll get back to you if we're having a particularly slow day.

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