A person cannot receive a custodial sentence for TV licence evasion, but may be committed to prison for wilfully refusing to pay the fine or culpably neglecting to pay. Imprisonment is only pursued as a matter of last resort.<\/p>
The number of people admitted to prison for failing to pay fines in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales in 2019 and 2022 was two or fewer (the actual number has not been released in order to protect against personal identification). In 2020 and 2021, there were no admissions into prison associated with failing to pay a fine in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales. The data for 2023 is not yet available.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4798", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Gareth Bacon"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Orpington"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Gareth Bacon"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-07T12:57:00.97Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were sentenced to prison for non-payment of a TV licence in the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/350", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir John Hayes"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Holland and The Deepings"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir John Hayes"}
], "uin" : "16081"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1690719", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1690719/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Ministry of Justice holds information on prosecutions for non-payment of TV licence fees, covering the period requested. The latest data available, until year ending June 2023, can be obtained in the following published tool: Outcomes by Offence tool: June 2023<\/a>.<\/p> In the data tool, navigate to the \u2018Prosecutions and convictions\u2019 tab. In the \u2018Offence\u2019 filter, select \u2018191A Television licence evasion\u2019.<\/p> The pivot table will now present the number of prosecutions at all courts from year ending June 2011, including the requested last five years, from year ending June 2019 to year ending June 2023.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4798", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Gareth Bacon"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Orpington"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Gareth Bacon"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-02-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-29T16:45:09.3Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been prosecuted for non-payment of TV licence fees in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "15067"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1663922", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1663922/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ministry of Justice holds data on the number of prosecutions for television licence evasion in magistrates\u2019 courts, covering the period requested up to December 2022, and this can be viewed in the following data tool:<\/p> Magistrates' court data tool: 2022<\/a>.<\/p> The information requested is not held centrally.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4004", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mike Freer"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Finchley and Golders Green"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mike Freer"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-02-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-02-14T17:48:56.053Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what was the estimated cost to the public purse of pursuing criminal charges against people for non payment of the TV license in the last year for which figures are available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4793", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Scott Benton"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Blackpool South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Scott Benton"}
], "uin" : "140407"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1522951", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1522951/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ministry of Justice publishes figures on the number of people fined for non-payment of a TV licence, broken down by fine amounts, on an annual basis on the GOV.UK website. These figures were most recently updated in May 2022, in the \u2018Sentencing Outcomes\u2019 worksheet in the Magistrates' court data tool (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 17.1 MB)<\/a> as part of the Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: December 2021 publication. The number of people fined for this offence can be found by filtering for HO Offence Code \u201819101 \u2013 Television licence evasion\u2019 and breaking this down by fine amount. These figures can also be broken down by various demographics such as age and gender. The average fine amount is available on the \u2018Average Amounts\u2019 worksheet.<\/p> The penalty for TV licence evasion is a fine. A person cannot receive a custodial sentence for TV licence evasion but can be committed to prison for wilfully refusing to pay the fine or culpably neglecting to pay. In 2021, there were no admissions into prison associated with failing to pay a fine in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4668", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Maclean"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Redditch"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rachel Maclean"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "63958"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-10-25T15:19:28.563Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on the amount of money that magistrates\u2019 courts in England and Wales imposed in fines for non-payment of the TV licence fee, from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/411", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Huddersfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Barry Sheerman"}
], "uin" : "63957"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1522952", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1522952/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ministry of Justice publishes figures on the number of people fined for non-payment of a TV licence, broken down by fine amounts, on an annual basis on the GOV.UK website. These figures were most recently updated in May 2022, in the \u2018Sentencing Outcomes\u2019 worksheet in the Magistrates' court data tool (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 17.1 MB)<\/a> as part of the Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: December 2021 publication. The number of people fined for this offence can be found by filtering for HO Offence Code \u201819101 \u2013 Television licence evasion\u2019 and breaking this down by fine amount. These figures can also be broken down by various demographics such as age and gender. The average fine amount is available on the \u2018Average Amounts\u2019 worksheet.<\/p> The penalty for TV licence evasion is a fine. A person cannot receive a custodial sentence for TV licence evasion but can be committed to prison for wilfully refusing to pay the fine or culpably neglecting to pay. In 2021, there were no admissions into prison associated with failing to pay a fine in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4668", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Maclean"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Redditch"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rachel Maclean"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "63957"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-10-25T15:19:28.61Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on the number of (a) people and (b) women given custodial sentences for the non-payment of a magistrates\u2019 court fine arising from a conviction for evasion of payment of TV licence fees in 2021.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/411", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Huddersfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Barry Sheerman"}
], "uin" : "63958"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506665", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506665/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " A person cannot receive a custodial sentence for non-payment of the TV licence fee as the maximum penalty is a fine.<\/p> The number of people admitted to prison for failing to pay fines in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales in each of the last ten years can be viewed at the following link: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-07-15/37589<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4668", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Maclean"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Redditch"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rachel Maclean"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-27T14:09:25.457Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were sent to prison for non-payment of the TV licence in each of the last ten years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4133", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Bridgen"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Leicestershire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Bridgen"}
], "uin" : "51658"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1489704", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1489704/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The number of people admitted to prison for failing to pay fines in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales, by gender, between 1995 and 2018 can be viewed at the following link:<\/p> https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-03-09/26808<\/a><\/p> The number of people admitted to prison for failing to pay fines in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales in 2019 was two or fewer (the actual number has not been released in order to protect against personal identification), none of whom were women.<\/p> In 2020 and 2021, there were no admissions into prison associated with failing to pay a fine in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales.<\/p> The penalty for TV licence evasion is a fine. A person cannot receive a custodial sentence for TV licence evasion but can be committed to prison for wilfully refusing to pay the fine or culpably neglecting to pay. The courts will do everything within their powers to trace those who do not pay and use a variety of means to ensure the recovery of criminal fines and financial penalties. Imprisonment is only pursued as a matter of last resort.<\/p> A person cannot receive an additional fine if they do not pay the initial fine for TV licence evasion.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4816", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Miss Sarah Dines"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derbyshire Dales"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Miss Sarah Dines"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "37590"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-21T15:46:35.277Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were imprisoned for non-payment of a TV licence, by gender, in each of the last ten years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4620", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ellie Reeves"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham West and Penge"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ellie Reeves"}
], "uin" : "37589"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1489705", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1489705/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The number of people admitted to prison for failing to pay fines in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales, by gender, between 1995 and 2018 can be viewed at the following link:<\/p> https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-03-09/26808<\/a><\/p> The number of people admitted to prison for failing to pay fines in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales in 2019 was two or fewer (the actual number has not been released in order to protect against personal identification), none of whom were women.<\/p> In 2020 and 2021, there were no admissions into prison associated with failing to pay a fine in respect of the non-payment of a TV licence in England and Wales.<\/p> The penalty for TV licence evasion is a fine. A person cannot receive a custodial sentence for TV licence evasion but can be committed to prison for wilfully refusing to pay the fine or culpably neglecting to pay. The courts will do everything within their powers to trace those who do not pay and use a variety of means to ensure the recovery of criminal fines and financial penalties. Imprisonment is only pursued as a matter of last resort.<\/p> A person cannot receive an additional fine if they do not pay the initial fine for TV licence evasion.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4816", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Miss Sarah Dines"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derbyshire Dales"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Miss Sarah Dines"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "37589"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-21T15:46:35.323Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have received a fine for failure to pay the initial fine for TV licence fee evasion by (a) gender and (b) region in each of the last ten years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4620", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ellie Reeves"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham West and Penge"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ellie Reeves"}
], "uin" : "37590"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1462944", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1462944/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ministry of Justice has published information on prosecutions for TV licence evasion, by gender, in England and Wales, up to December 2021, available in the \u2018Outcomes by Offence\u2019 data tool<\/a>, which can be found here: Criminal justice system statistics quarterly: December 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p> To view the number of prosecutions by gender for the non-payment of TV licences:<\/p> The number of females prosecuted will be found on row 25 and the number of males prosecuted will be found on row 26.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4519", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for James Cartlidge"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "James Cartlidge"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-05-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-05-24T09:27:46.44Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were prosecuted for non-payment of the TV licence, by gender, in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "2303"}
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}