Just to add my 2 penn'th
I use a Bel 550i Euro Radar & Laser detector in my car (Alfa147GTA) and have done for about 4 years. They were once illegal based upon an interpretation of 'misuse of police communications' but this was thrown out years ago and they've been legal for ages. The govt. keeps threatening to make them illegal again but the manufacturers are smart and now sell them as 'accident blackspot detectors' rather than 'speed trap detectors'. This uses the govt's argument that cameras are only used at accident balckspots (yeh right!) against them and says that surely it would be safer to inform road users when they are approaching a 'blackspot' so that they can take extra care!
There are many different versions of these detectors, mine is quite old now and so does not detect the latest Truvelo's and SPECS systems, but it gets GATSOs and laser devices. The GPS ones use a database (with an annual subscription to download form the web) plotting GPS co-ordinates of each camera (so it can warn you as you get close) but do not tell you if they are actually armed (most GATSOs are actually empty boxes). The Road Angel also has laser detection to get handheld laser guns. Nothing will currently detect the latest generation of mobile SPECS systems (you see these sat on m'way bridges - a white van with 2 camera poles stuck out the roof!).
There's a lot of good info on the Association of British Drivers website about the different cameras and detectors that exist too!
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