08-03-2014, 00:41
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#1
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Location: newcastle upon tyne
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TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...e-a-crime.html
Quote:
It will no longer be a criminal offence to refuse to pay the TV licence fee, under radical plans being backed by ministers.
Currently, anyone failing to pay the licence fee who watches live television at home faces a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. Those who refuse to pay any fines they are given by a Magistrates Court ultimately face jail.
More than 100 backbench MPs from all the major political parties are now supporting a change in the law which would make non-payment of the annual £145.50 charge a matter for the civil courts, rather than a criminal offence.
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Quote:
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More than 180,000 people – almost 3,500 a week – appeared before the Magistrates Courts in 2012, accused of watching television without a valid licence in, with 155,000 being convicted and fined.
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With so much magistrates time taken up by such a minor offence i think this is a sensible move,don't think the Beeb hierarchy will like it much
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