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Original poster

Decriminalising non-payment of TV licence

56 replies

Cwenthryth · 16/12/2019 20:33

So one of the first non-Brexit things coming out of the new government is reconsidering decriminalisation of TV licence non-payment

www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50800128

A quick look at various media it seems to be being mostly spun as Johnson&co being vindictive after how the BBC handled their election campaign, refusing Andrew Neil/Today etc.

But, I am all for this from a feminist standpoint! This being a criminal offence overwhelmingly affects women more than men - 72% of people prosecuted for non-payment of TV licences are women; if this is decriminalised then you cut total prosecutions of women by 30% instantly. source. Brilliant. You don’t go prison for falling behind with other utility bills; this should be a civil matter, not a criminal one.

I wish this was being reported from this viewpoint though; it is clearly a feminist issue. Or am I missing it perhaps.

OP posts:
BigFatLiar · 16/12/2019 20:45

There's only so much advertising money to go around and the BBC provides more than the three TV channels. It also funds the national and local radio stations, World Service and web services. All of these will either have to be funded out of general taxation or via advertising. Many may simply disappear, especially the less popular/mainstream. It'll be a bit rough for both the BBC and the commercial stations.

MrsTerryPratchett · 16/12/2019 20:44

Agree.

DeeZastris · 16/12/2019 20:41

Completely agree.

It’s a completely outdated concept anyway.

CrissmussMockers · 16/12/2019 20:38

Evan Davies on PM today was very good on this:

It's a crime not to pay t because it's a tax. It is collected by Capita on behalf of the BBC who levy it on behalf of the Treasury, and send it to the Treasury so they can give it straight back in the form of a grant.

Why not just put it on the income tax and have done with it?

Binterested · 16/12/2019 20:38

Plus for good feminist reasons I can no longer support the BBC’s protected status.

Binterested · 16/12/2019 20:36

Absolutely agree.