TV licence dodgers may no longer face prosecution

philip2009

philip2009

philip2009

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TV licence dodgers may no longer face prosecution in the courts under new plans being considered by the Government.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling says "serious work" on the plan is under way, with more than 100 cross-party MPs in support.

"The Culture Secretary (Maria Miller) and I both agree that this is a really interesting idea, particularly given the pressure on our courts system," Mr Grayling told The Daily Telegraph.

"Our departments will be doing some serious work on the proposal."

Efforts to change the law are being spearheaded by Tory MP Andrew Bridgen.

He said that for some cash-strapped families, the current law was "criminalising them for being poor".

"It is outrageous that so many people are brought into the criminal justice system through this means. I believe that non-payment should be treated in the way that parking tickets are," Mr Bridgen told the newspaper.

"It is absurd that the courts are being clogged up by such a minor offence."

Full article...
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I fully support this, it's absolutely disgusting that the BBC are quite happy to criminalise the poor. A criminal record for not having a TV licence is completely insane. TV licence prosecutions account for 1 in 10 court cases.

Next please take BBC funding from general taxation which will save up to £1.55 billion over 15 years.
 
It is stealing at the end of the day. If you cant afford it don't watch it. But i do agree it shouldn't be wasting court time.
 
philip2009 said:
I fully support this, it's absolutely disgusting that the BBC are quite happy to criminalise the poor. A criminal record for not having a TV licence is completely insane. TV licence prosecutions account for 1 in 10 court cases.

Next please take BBC funding from general taxation which will save up to £1.55 billion over 15 years.
Click to expand...

The BBC are already looking for extra revenue streams. Aren't they trying to monetize iPlayer now? Yes they are, in fact.

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/12...-and-iplayer-charging-viewers-watch-favourite
 
Sho said:
Good. Next abolish bbc license.
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this.

TVL take you to court as soon as you give them your name, whether you need a license or not.

Best bet = don't talk to TVL, ever.

Hopefully... if they can't take you to court, they might stop sending goons round to our houses and sending threat letters every other week.
 
philip2009 said:
I fully support this, it's absolutely disgusting that the BBC are quite happy to criminalise the poor. A criminal record for not having a TV licence is completely insane. TV licence prosecutions account for 1 in 10 court cases.

Next please take BBC funding from general taxation which will save up to £1.55 billion over 15 years.
Click to expand...

WHERE IS THE SAVING?
A straight fee versus it coming in taxes?
The same amount of money is taken, where exactly is this saving you mention?
 
Sho said:
Good. Next abolish bbc license.
Click to expand...

Right now (imho, ymmv, etc) the BBC is the only channel producing content of any real value in the UK. Abolish the licence ans they will have to go to advertising like the other channels.

I am not against that per-say, but it will lead to viewing figures trumping actual quality. "Inform and educate" will be dropped from the BBC mandate. We will just have yet more channels filled with reality TV.
 
billysielu said:
this.

TVL take you to court as soon as you give them your name, whether you need a license or not.

Best bet = don't talk to TVL, ever.

Hopefully... if they can't take you to court, they might stop sending goons round to our houses and sending threat letters every other week.
Click to expand...

They can take you to court, the suggestion is to make it a civil matter, so they simply take a civil case instead of a criminal case.
I think the change and idea is a stupid one, will cost the corporation more money long term, and won't secure any better programming or funding in any short medium or long term.

I see great value in the BBC, I would hate to see this altered.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
WHERE IS THE SAVING?
A straight fee versus it coming in taxes?
The same amount of money is taken, where exactly is this saving you mention?
Click to expand...

It costs money to collect the licence fee. Capita are paid by the BBC to do this.

Since 1991, collection and enforcement of the licence fee is the responsibility of the BBC in its role as TV Licensing Authority.[9] The BBC pursues its licence fee collection and enforcement under the trading name "TV Licensing", but contracts much of the task to commercial organisations.[9][10] A major contractor is Capita[11] which specialises in outsourcing for government projects. It is expected that Capita will earn £1.10bn - £1.55bn from its contract with the BBC if it runs its maximum 15 years from July 2012.[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom
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robj20 said:
It is stealing at the end of the day. If you cant afford it don't watch it. But i do agree it shouldn't be wasting court time.
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presumed stealing with no evidence.

I do nothing which requires a TV license.
I am not about to tell them I don't need one what is this a nazi state? show me your papers please
 
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