Really Worried - The TV Licence - Unnecessary Trial

Silk

Cornucopia wrote: »

It doesn't pass the cause and effect test.

You're suggesting prison for an offence that hasn't happened yet. It's unnecessary scare-mongering.

It's a fact it's not scare-mongering ...if you get fined and fail to pay there is a chance you will be sent to prison

bazzyb

Silk wrote: »

What's incorrect the figure or the fact they have been put in prison for failing to pay ?

Your statement that 50 people were imprisoned in 2012/13 for not having a TV licence is incorrect.

Silk

bazzyb wrote: »

Your statement that 50 people were imprisoned in 2012/13 for not having a TV licence is incorrect.

How many was it ?
Or should I say how many was it who were sent to prison as a result of not having a TV Licence and failing to pay the fine ? if you prefer that wording

bazzyb

Silk wrote: »

How many was it ?

As far as I am aware, zero. Hence why I asked if you would be so kind as to post a link to your source if you have found something that suggests otherwise.

Silk

bazzyb wrote: »

As far as I am aware, zero. Hence why I asked if you would be so kind as to post a link to your source if you have found something that suggests otherwise.

I can give you figures from 2008 to 2012 ....
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140403/text/140403w0001.htm#140403w000


Table 1: Fine defaulters received into prison for defaulting on fines imposed for using a TV without a valid licence: England and Wales, 2008-12
Length to serve in respect of fine
Less than or equal to three months
2008 34
2009 30
2010 30
2011 48
2012 50
Greater than three months, less than or equal to six months
2008 1
2012 1

Silk

Just to add to the above post ....Ireland as I mentioned earlier is much worse ... https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2014-03-25a.1700&s=tv+licence#g1701.q




The Irish Prison Service has also provided details of the number of people imprisoned for the non-payment of a TV licence following the execution of a warrant in the period concerned, as set out in the following table:
Year No. of persons imprisoned for non payment of TV Licence
2009 75
2010 152
2011 183
2012 272
2013 411

Not_Another_Username

No offence taken gj. I know where you were coming from.

I knew somebody who went to prison for not having a TV licence. They didn't care. They refused to have one and watched live TV. A case of sticking up two fingers at the law. He refused to pay the fine too and did at least one two week stint in Lincoln prison. He didn't mind that. If my memory serves me correctly I'm sure he had two seperate stints in prison for the same refusal to pay the fine. I admire him for that in a way as I know that, if we all stuck together and had the same attitude, the TV lucence would be dropped in a flash, as it has been in New Zealand. I wish we could quietly co-ordinate such action here.

Thanks again Cornucopia. (I really need to go through the posts and click on the "Thanks" buttons. I tend to ignore gimmicks like these.)

I was not present when my wife signed the form. I didn't even know there had been somebody at the door. It was too late by the time I realised. I remember the attitude of the TVL inspector being polite, but it was quite clear that he was on a mission. I actually witnessed her signing the form and wanted to snatch it from her hand and rip it up, but I couldn't bring myself to do it at the time. I know I was angry, but I did not understand the facts as clearly as I do now. My thoughts then were along the lines of causing more trouble had I ripped up the form. I have noted your points about my wife being miseld and I think there might be something we could work on there.

We dread making an appointment with our doctor. It takes a long time and it's hit and miss as to which doctor we see. Outlining the problems we have had with doctors and hospitals would warrant starting a new thread and I wont go into that. My wife has been treated very badly by the local health service. There is a case ongoing at the moment which has advanced to the High Costs stage. You couln't make it up.

Yes, please provide your source Silk, but if it's anything to do with something you've read in the Daily Express, please don't bother.

Cornucopia

Silk wrote: »

Just to add to the above post ....Ireland as I mentioned earlier is much worse ...

This isn't Ireland. Which makes the Irish situation irrelevant.

In fact, from what you've posted, it sounds as though you *can* go to prison there for Licence Fee evasion.

My objection to the discussion is four-fold:-

1. It's part of a wider moral mindlessness that some people seem to think is appropriate on these forums. If someone is in a tricky situation they want help and advice, not moralising and spite.

2. Why would you assume that the OP (or any given individual) would not pay a Court fine on agreed payment terms? I think it's offensive to imply that about someone you don't know.

3. It's a completely separate step on the legal process. You might as well say that the someone could go to prison if they tried to bribe their way out of the situation.

4. The BBC tells us that a lot of TVL defendants don't pay their fines. And yet only a tiny number are sent to prison. That indicates that there is a process or a filter there which we don't know the details of: it's not automatic.

bazzyb

Silk wrote: »

I can give you figures from 2008 to 2012 ....
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140403/text/140403w0001.htm#140403w000

Your link confirms that I was correct with my figure of zero, as it states the following:

The offences of using a TV receiver without a valid licence and of failure to hold a valid vehicle excise duty licence (tax disc) are not punishable by imprisonment, so offenders cannot be sentenced to custody for these offences.

gjchester

Not_Another_Username wrote: »

I admire him for that in a way as I know that, if we all stuck together and had the same attitude, the TV lucence would be dropped in a flash, as it has been in New Zealand. I wish we could quietly co-ordinate such action here.

Really off topic but if we did the fee per house would be put elsewhere. There used to be a Radio licence as well as a TV licence, it wasn't really removed as such just rolled into the TV licence when TV's became common.


Abolish the licence as is now and it would pop up elsewhere, possibly council tax...