Can you be taken to court for not having a TV Licence?
If you don’t have a licence or fail to repay your arrears, you could receive a court fine. It’s a criminal offence to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer unless you have a valid TV licence.
Can you be prosecuted for TV Licence?
You will also still have to buy a TV Licence, if you need one. You can’t be sent to prison for a TV Licensing conviction, but you can be sent to prison for deliberately refusing to pay court fines.
How many prosecutions do you need for a TV Licence?
The chart below shows the number of prosecutions and convictions for TV Licence evasion since 2010. In 2019, there were 122,603 prosecutions and 114,531 convictions for TV Licence evasion. Of the 114,531 convicted, 84,801 were women (74%).
Do you get a criminal record for TV Licence?
The matter may only be entered on your criminal record if you repeatedly refuse to pay and are taken to court over non-payment of fines. However, watching TV without a licence is a criminal offence in itself, and if you’re caught then that will be entered on your police record.
Can TV licence enter your house?
TV Licensing can only enter your home without your permission if authorised to do so under a search warrant granted by a magistrate (or sheriff in Scotland). It is an offence to intentionally obstruct a person exercising the warrant (see section 366(8) of the Communications Act 2003).
Can a TV licence person enter your house?
What happens if you watch TV without a license?
If we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally, you risk prosecution and a fine for not having a TV Licence of up to £1,000* plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay. *The maximum fine is £2,000 in Guernsey.
What can TV Licence enforcement officers do?
If you do not have a TV licence, TV Licensing can send an enforcement officer out to your house to ensure you are not watching licensable content. The purpose of their visit is to see if you are watching licensable content without a licence and, if so, to gather evidence of your breach of the law.
Can a magistrate issue a summons for TV Licensing?
In order for the Magistrates to issue a summons TV Licensing must lay information before the court that an offence has been committed.
What happens if I watch TV without a licence?
He will be trying to ascertain whether that person has been viewing a TV without a licence. If the Enquiry Agents suspects that a TV is being viewed in the property without a valid TV Licence, he has a duty to caution the individual concerned of their legal rights before taking a Prosecution Statement/Record of Interview.
How is the fine calculated for TV licence court?
Your TV licence court fine will be set as a percentage of your ‘Relevant Weekly Income’ (RWI). For example; if you are on a low income or on benefits, your RWI will usually be calculated as being £120 per week.
Can a summons be issued under the new law?
The information given below still holds true, but a summons (referred to as a Requisition under the new legislation) will only be issued when the case is being dealt with by the full Magistrates’ Court instead of under the single Justice arrangements] Would you know how to proceed in those circumstances?