Two out of three of the defendants are women – thought to be because they are more often at home when enforcement officers call.So? Apart from soft-hearted magistrates, does anyone else think that women should escape punishment for a crime that men would get punished for?
The revelations have raised concerns that the fee evaders are being treated with a heavy hand and face tougher penalties than drug users and shoplifters.Then increase the penalties for drug users and shoplifters – job done!
After all, it’s not like most of the fines issued even get paid anyway…
Magistrates called for the offence to be decriminalised so defendants are dealt with outside the courts.Farm it out to private enterprise and I think you’d find that the bailiffs would be going in even more frequently, not less! What would the bleeding hearts say then?
Civil liberties groups said fee evaders would find themselves branded as criminals when undergoing a CRB check.If you’re the sort to evade paying your TV license (currently a criminal offence, whatever anyone might want it to be, and more to the point, known to be so) are you the sort to obey all other laws?
Nick Pickles from Big Brother Watch, said: ‘A criminal conviction carries huge repercussions and it is questionable if a TV licensing offence warrants such a heavy handed approach. A civil alternative would still allow revenue to be recovered without blighting people’s futures with the seriousness of a criminal conviction.’
I wonder…
9 comments:
Why do these people let so called telly tax enforcement officers into their homes? These so called enforcement officers are employees of the private company that administers the telly tax.
Want to come into my home? Get a court order.
Ignore the knock.
Don't speak to ANY Capita employees. Burn their computer generated harassment letters.
Really how hard can it be?
As for the number of women being caught' the Capita crew are paid a large percentage of every licence fee they collect on the door so it makes commercial sense to call when their self confessing victims are most likely to be home ie during the day when the kids are at school.
Capita have a disgraceful reputation in Huddersfield. Whilst they emphatically deny any wrongdoing, their employees are alleged to push aside homeowners and enter premises uninvited. For reasons given later, I am inclined to believe this allegation, anticipating the ease with which surprised women may be intimidated and brushed aside.
A few months ago I bought an old property for renovation. It stands vacant and unfurnished. It has no TV but there is a roof-mounted aerial. Weekly post to the property always includes one letter from 'TV Licensing' and this post has become progressively threatening. Harassing mail, which falsely purports to be official, also claims I am under a legal duty to provide information. I have ceased to take the trouble of opening this mail, only to distress myself with threats of the unenforceable.
An encounter with a group of arrogant bullies for whom I had more contempt than plod, was almost certain.
They try to add shame to the residents of the premises they visit with signs on their vehicles stating their aim - 'Mobile TV Detection Vehicle' and such like. A friend of mine who was visited (he didn't have a licence 'cos he doesn't have a TV!) borrowed a van, had some signs with 'Paedophile Detection Unit' stuck on the side and parked it (lawfully) outside the local offices of Capita. The response was quite interesting and he has told Capita if they send anyone else round to his house, threatening hi wife, he will put the video response to his visit on Youtube! So far no calls, but he is secretly hoping....
Penseivat
In what way is the TV licence different from a protection racket? The technology is available for the BBCs output to be encrypted so that people can pay for it if they want it. The fact that if you want to watch any TV at all then you have to pay for the BBC, whether you want it or not, is absurd. Even more absurd, refusing to pay for something that you have not asked for is actually a crime.
If I am ever in the unfortunate circumstance of being forced to live in the UK again I will take great delight in not having a TV just so I can tell the TVLA to piss off (or rather, not tell them, since silence is far and away the best defence against these numpties.)
"Why do these people let so called telly tax enforcement officers into their homes?"
Well, we've bred and 'educated' a nation that are incurious, gullible and subservient to authority...
"Really how hard can it be?"
Pretty hard, it would seem!
"An encounter with a group of arrogant bullies for whom I had more contempt than plod..."
Wow! That's telling, isn't it?
"They try to add shame to the residents of the premises they visit..."
They are really wasting their time, then. We don't 'do' shame any more.
"In what way is the TV licence different from a protection racket?"
Capita don't break your legs or burn you out of your house. Yet.
"... I will take great delight in not having a TV just so I can tell the TVLA to piss off (or rather, not tell them, since silence is far and away the best defence against these numpties.)"
It'd almost be worth it, wouldn't it? ;)
"Wow! That's telling, isn't it?"
Most kind. Thank you, JuliaM.
Perhaps you may eventually share my pity for the pathetic mobility of those with a tactical foot in each of the plod and plod critics' camps.
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