Non-payment of TV licence fee may be taken out of criminal law
Plans to decriminalise the non-payment of the TV licence fee are being considered by government departments in a move designed to ease pressure on the courts, but which could have major repercussions for the BBC.
A cross-party group of MPs is pushing for a change in the law to make non-payment a civil offence, and the culture secretary, Maria Miller, has signalled she is prepared to put the idea on the table during talks about reviewing the BBC's charter.
"She has made clear that the BBC needs to get its house in order, particularly when it comes to governance and transparency. Having decriminalisation on the table during the negotiations will focus the BBC's minds," said a spokesperson for Miller.
Her office added that Miller's view was shared by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, who is quoted in the Daily Telegraph on Friday saying Whitehall officials are engaged in "serious work" on the idea.
Offenders at present face a £1,000 fine and a criminal record, as well as the prospect of jail if fines are not paid. More than 180,000 people appeared in court last year after being accused of not paying the £145.50 fee – accounting for over one in 10 of all criminal prosecutions. Of those, 155,000 were convicted and fined.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/08/tv-licence-fee-decriminalise-miller-bbc
