MP calls for non-payment of licence fee to be decriminalised

The Culture Secretary today expressed concerns at “increasingly disproportionate and unfair” criminal sanctions for non-payment of the licence fee.

Speaking at culture, media and sport questions in the Commons, Lucy Frazer said the review into the BBC funding model will consider whether a mandatory TV licence with criminal penalties is “still appropriate”.

Conservative MP Stephen Metcalfe said it seems “completely unreasonable” that 18 percent of all female prosecutions in 2021 were due to not paying the licence fee.

He asked Ms Frazer to meet with him and a constituent to discuss the issue and to receive a 250,000-signature petition asking for decriminalisation.

The Culture Secretary replied: “Like the honourable member, I am concerned that the criminal sanction for TV licence evasion is increasingly disproportionate and unfair in a modern service broadcasting system.

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“Our review of the BBC funding model will consider whether a mandatory licence fee with criminal penalties is still appropriate.”

Tory MP Philip Davies asked: “Does the Secretary of State believe that people should be forced by the criminal law to buy a Sky TV package even if they don’t want one?

“And if not, why should they force to buy a BBC licence fee if they don’t want one?

“Does she not agree that both are equally absurd?”

Ms Frazer said: “He will know that the department is considering all possible future funding options to ensure the BBC’s long-term sustainability because the digital world is indeed changing.”

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In 2021, the Government decided it would not go ahead with plans to decriminalise non-payment of the TV licence.

It instead said it would keep the issue under “active consideration”.

People found guilty of using television receiving equipment without a licence can be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000.

A prison sentence cannot follow for a TV licensing conviction although the court may decide to impose one on someone who deliberately refuses to pay court fines.

The BBC previously warned that decriminalising licence fee evasion and switching to a civil system would cost it more than £1billion and lead to significant cuts to programmes and services.

Last month, the corporation announced increased support for people in “real financial difficulty” to pay the £159-a-year charge.

The support plan aims to reduce the number of women who are prosecuted for licence fee evasion following the BBC’s gender disparity review which was set up to find out why 75 percent of those prosecuted are women.

The review, which was overseen by independent adviser Baroness Lola Young, found the disparity is largely caused by societal factors and there is no evidence that TV licensing deliberately discriminates against any group.

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