Woman prosecuted for unpaid TV licence - Single Justice Process

[RethinkingLife]

I post one case here but it’s worth a look at court reporter Tristan Kirk’s timeline for more examples. I am concerned that the Single Justice Process is disproportionately affecting women and already vulnerable people.

"Please don't send me to prison" Plea from single mother with spiralling mental health problems, PTSD, using foodbanks, heavily in debt Prosecuted over unpaid TV Licence She needed help She got a conviction & a £106 bill #SingleJusticeProcedure Constituent of MattBishopMP

[Text of letter]

I am a adhd Autistic struggling single mother. When the tv agent came to my home to set up my liecense he said he would send me a payment card. I never received it, I called up twice to ask for a replacement and still nothing. I am in serious debt, I don't have a smartphone anymore or devices due to multiple bailiff's visits the last 6 months.

My mental health is spiralling I just keep getting hit I have no money no csa off my daughters dad. I'm getting by on food banks as all my money goes on debts and fines.

I'm sorry my brain doesn't allow me function properly and sort things out, I also suffer with PTSD from having cancer 3 times and am so anxious right now as I am feeling unwell again I am scared I'm going to die soon. I recieved this letter late without enough time to write and post my reply I've just ran next door to my neighbour in tears to use her laptop. I am petrified after this letter please know that I have tried to get a payment card twice it's the tv liecensing that haven't held up their end.

Please take into account my already extreme debts, please don't send me to prison I couldn't cope and neither could my daughter. I am a good person, just a struggling person. Thank you for your time.

https://x.com/kirkkorner/status/1909130267270533200

I messed up thread title and have reported to request an edit.

Archive of Evening Standard piece on single justice procedure.

https://archive.is/tjgPB

Relatives in grief after the deaths of their loved ones are being routinely convicted in secretive court hearings for not keeping up with their household bills, The Standard can reveal.
Sons, daughters, widows, and widowers are finding themselves embroiled in criminal court proceedings in the aftermath of a death, over mistakes when dealing with the tragedy and sorting out the deceased’s affairs.
The harsh justice is being meted out in the Single Justice Procedure (SJP), a fast-track courts process where convictions for low-level crimes are handed out in private hearings.

Thanks for sharing the article, it's heart braking, and blood boiling at the same times, I'm a bit of a hard cow at times, but this level of callousness is off the charts.

It's run away bureaucracy, and it's only going to get worse because all the information is being fed into machines, and machines don't care they just do what they're programmed to do.
There's nothing personal about this system, there's no mitigating circumstances, no putting things into perspective, no human input at all. It's chilling and inhuman.

This is crazy and very sad. The lady quoted in the OP probably needs a social worker who helps her with paperwork and to sort through it all. Someone who can argue on her behalf with the companies that sent bills and ask to rearrange debts to make them better manageable.

What is a TV license payment card? And why did someone come to her house to set up her license? All she had to do was go to a library and set up a direct debit for the monthly payment. I’m confused how it could have gone so wrong.

It sounds like she needs adult social services involved and a debt advice service to handle her finances.

I remember reading something a few months ago about how women were disproportionately prosecuted compared to men when it comes to not having a TV licence. I wonder why that is? 🤔

Looking at the Evening Standard article, it seems as if it’s acknowledged that SJP is affecting those who are especially vulnerable but, despite promises to reform, the convictions and fines continue without benefit to those affected by it nor the public interest.

So many vulnerable people seem to be falling without the safety nets that should exist. And I am concerned that women (and children) are disproportionately harmed.

Actors/celebs fall over themselves to spout that the TV licence is justified and assures quality output.

Our name used when the tv is bought? My mums partner bought a tv for her house tv licence people were all over him because the name didn't match

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay-for-your-tv-licence/ways-to-pay/payment-card

It says the BBC subcontracts with companies who do the legwork (literally).

(assuming this page is legitimate)

But the lady said she did apply and never heard anything back.

The whole process described in the OP looks almost like some companies don't mind being dishonest and that some vulnerable people fall through the cracks.
With the situation the woman described it is not really surprising that it's hard to stay on top with paperwork. Maybe they tried to contact her when she was in hospital.

Agree that she needs independent help from the council or a charity to manage this.
And then on the other side you have wealthy people using their contacts to get contracts during Covid, for example for overpriced PPE. They seem to be much harder to prosecute.

Its hard to imagine how anyone thought this process would be a fair procedure.

These are the critisisms of the system by Magistrates https://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/blog/single-justice-procedure-needs-reform-say-magistrates/

The consultation on this closes in May, but it is so long and convoluted not sure who will have time to do it. Or the expertise.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/oversight-and-regulation-of-private-prosecutors-in-the-criminal-justice-system

Yet the number of people who brag on social media that they never pay for a tv licence and get away with it.
This poor woman needs help not a bloody conviction.

IWantToRetire Thank you for linking the consultation. It is daunting but I shall respond to this.

It would be helpful if one of the main organisations were to give some guidance but I shall do what I can.

... 1,000 people a week are prosecuted for non-payment of their licence—of whom 70% are women. Recently, the use of the single justice procedure with one magistrate has meant that the mitigating circumstances are often not heard. The magistrate may even be sitting at home. The elderly, the disabled and the poorest are most likely to be prosecuted. Capita gets £456 million from the BBC for the use of its investigators, most of whom are on a bonus pay scheme, dependent on how many prosecutions they get. Does the Minister not agree that it is time to decriminalise the non-payment of the BBC licence fee, as the Government promised on many occasions before the last general election? ...
https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-03-05/debates/96DD7483-FCA5-4405-99DE-5C7EEE7E9813/TVLicenceNon-PaymentWomen

I am sort of surprised that some of the legal / human rights / equalities groups haven't taken this up.

It is quite a daunting consultation.

I wonder if Age Concern or one of them has commented on this.

She does, but it’s incredibly hard to get one. I work in a community centre and help people with this kind of thing, often because they’ve fallen through the net of social services.

@Treesinthewind thank you for your work.

The system is mad, when compared with these news, for example:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/sep/03/prison-early-release-scheme-to-include-some-serious-offenders-moj-admits

Serious offenders being released early; on the other hand vulnerable people who mainly need help fear prison for an unpaid bill that looks like an accumulation of errors by the company.

I was completely unaware of the number of convictions for non-payment of the license fee but sadly, not surprised at the proportion of women.
I happily pay my fee and pay monthly but to set that up I had to pay half the year upfront. It wasn’t an insignificant sum for me at that time and I couldn’t afford the whole year or any streaming services.
By making it 6 months upfront payment it becomes impossible for those on a low income. £78 if my sums are correct .
If the bbc allowed no upfront payment then fewer people would risk the conviction. The bbc would then spend less outsourcing a bonus driven system by a profit making company to find and get convictions.

Tristan Kirk is doing amazing work, highlighting the unfairness of SJP.

Why is it men who view extremely harmful CSA images are treated so leniently whilst women struggling financially to raise & feed children (often with an absent Father) are prosecuted and imprisoned for lack of money?

This looks generally relevant (it’s not turned up in the archive yet but it’s free to read as a one-off if people register ).

https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/04/03/what-happens-when-britain-frees-thousands-of-prisoners-at-once?

We can’t keep dangerous men in prison but we’re intimidating women and the vulnerable with it over TV licence and similar debts or people with dementia or unmanageably chaotic lives.

Tangential but related on being affected by coerced debt by a partner or when a relationship breaks down.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/apr/08/our-divorce-ruling-may-have-enabled-my-ex-husband-to-trash-my-credit-score

Women can be prosecuted for not paying for the BBC, but men aren't prosecuted for not paying for their own KIDS. Sounds about right.

Yes this.

And also, you can just declare that you're not watching the BBC and only watch streaming services. Why anyone would watch the BBC these days when you can see as much content online on youtube is beyond me. Only people who are struggling and therefore don't realise this will be prosecuted - it seems a system designed to punch down on the most vulnerable and is completely indefensible.

This also.

God it's depressing, I feel thoroughly ashamed of those running this country.

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/tv-licence-fines.aspx#:~:text=No%2C%20there%20is%20no%20need,court%20can%20take%20further%20action.

Can I go to prison for not having a licence?

No, there is no need to worry. You cannot go to prison for simply not having a TV licence. The court can only give you a fine.
But if you fail to pay the fine for not having a TV licence, the court can take further action. They can send bailiffs or sheriff officers to your home. And they can take money from your wages or benefits if you refuse to pay what you owe.
They can then send you to prison if you still do not pay after all these steps to collect the debt unpaid fine have failed. This is as a last resort.