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/1687465", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1687465/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The requirement to hold, and pay for, a TV Licence is set out in the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004. Under the Communications Act 2003, the BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the TV licensing system.<\/p> The Ministry of Justice currently publishes the number of prosecutions, convictions and sentencing outcomes for the non-payment of TV licence fees annually as part of their criminal justice statistics quarterly publications, which can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4647", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julia Lopez"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornchurch and Upminster"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Julia Lopez"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-02-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-07T16:18:16.22Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-05", "_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 Culture, Media and Sport, how many people were prosecuted for TV licence evasion in England in 2023.", "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" : "12914"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1686492", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1686492/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The requirement to hold, and pay for, a television licence is set out in the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004. Under the Communications Act 2003, the BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the TV licensing system.<\/p> The Ministry of Justice currently publishes the number of prosecutions, convictions, and sentencing outcomes for the non-payment of TV licence fees annually as part of its quarterly criminal justice statistics, which can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly<\/p> The figures are not broken down in the exact age groups requested. A breakdown of people proceeded against for TV licence evasion in England and Wales broken down by the age groups provided in the Ministry of Justice\u2019s figures is below:<\/p> <\/p> 21-29<\/p> 2021 - 9,767<\/p> 2022 - 7,498<\/p> 2023 - 5,705<\/p> <\/p> 30-39<\/p> 2021 - 18,635<\/p> 2022 - 16,273<\/p> 2023 - 13,139<\/p> <\/p> 40-49<\/p> 2021 - 12,804<\/p> 2022 - 11,712<\/p> 2023 - 9,790<\/p> <\/p> 50-59<\/p> 2021 - 8,337<\/p> 2022 - 8,050<\/p> 2023 - 6,927<\/p> <\/p> 60-69<\/p> 2021 - 3,042<\/p> 2022 - 3,071<\/p> 2023 - 2,931<\/p> <\/p> 70+<\/p> 2021 - 269<\/p> 2022 - 279<\/p> 2023 - 266<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4728", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-12T13:08:03.01Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-01-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government how many people aged (1) 20\u201330, (2) 31\u201340, (3) 41\u201350, (4) 51\u201360, (5) 61\u201375, and (6) 76 and over, were prosecuted in (a) 2021, (b) 2022, and (c) 2023, for non-payment of their TV licences.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4884", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Botham"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Botham"}
], "uin" : "HL2067"}
, {"_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> In February 2020, HM Government launched a public consultation on decriminalising TV licence evasion. The responses highlighted the considerable stress and anxiety the criminal sanction can cause for people, including the most vulnerable in society. HM Government remains concerned that a criminal sanction for TV licence evasion is increasingly disproportionate and unfair in a modern public service broadcasting system.<\/p> We will be looking at ways to ensure the BBC\u2019s funding model is sustainable in the long-term, which will include asking whether a mandatory licence fee with criminal penalties for individual households is still appropriate.<\/p> HM Government has also taken steps to support licence fee payers, introducing the Simple Payment Plan in April 2020, a flexible payment instalment scheme which allows customers to pay in fortnightly or monthly instalments throughout the year. This is available to certain customers who currently struggle to pay the TV licence fee. More information on the Simple Payment Plan and its eligibility criteria can be found on tvlicensing.co.uk.<\/p> The BBC has recently published the findings of its Gender Disparity Review into TV Licence Fee evasion and set out a ten-point plan of action. It is important that the BBC make progress on that plan.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4728", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-06-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-06-28T12:56:17.177Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to de-criminalise the non-payment of television licence fees.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4542", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Smith of Hindhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Smith of Hindhead"}
], "uin" : "HL8624"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1607054", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1607054/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee, not the Government. The Government expects the BBC to collect the licence fee in an efficient and proportionate manner.<\/p> The requirement to hold a TV Licence is set out in the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) 2004. The current cost of a TV licence is £159 with the maximum penalty for TV licence evasion being a fine of £1,000. The sentencing court will determine the level of the fine. MOJ statistics indicate that the average fine is around £175.<\/p> In February 2020, the Government launched a public consultation on decriminalising TV licence evasion. The responses highlighted the considerable stress and anxiety the criminal sanction can cause for individuals, including the most vulnerable in society.<\/p> The Government remains concerned that a criminal sanction for TV licence evasion is increasingly disproportionate and unfair in a modern public service broadcasting system. We will be looking at ways to ensure the BBC\u2019s funding model is sustainable in the long-term, which will include asking whether a mandatory licence fee with criminal penalties for individual households is still appropriate.<\/p> The Government has also taken steps to support licence fee payers. This includes freezing the licence fee for two years, which aims to support households at a time when they need that support the most. The Government also introduced the Simple Payment Plan in April 2020, a flexible payment instalment scheme that allows customers to pay in fortnightly or monthly instalments throughout the year, and is available to certain customers who currently struggle to pay the TV licence fee. More information on the Simple Payment Plan and its eligibility criteria can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4647", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julia Lopez"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornchurch and Upminster"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Julia Lopez"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-04-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-04-03T16:37:51.203Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-03-24", "_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 Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to change the penalties imposed on people who have not paid for their TV licence because they cannot afford to.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4518", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tulip Siddiq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hampstead and Kilburn"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tulip Siddiq"}
], "uin" : "173046"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1606132", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1606132/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The requirement to hold, and pay for, a television licence is set out in the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004.<\/p> People are liable to a financial penalty if they are convicted of TV licence evasion. The Ministry of Justice publishes figures on the number of people fined for non-payment of a TV licence; the information requested can be found below.<\/p> Number of people who received a fine for licence fee evasion (2010\u201322), including the number of women who received a fine for licence fee evasion (2010\u201322)<\/strong><\/p> Year<\/p><\/td> All<\/p><\/td> Women (18+)<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2010<\/p><\/td> 141,682<\/p><\/td> 96,321<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2011<\/p><\/td> 148,539<\/p><\/td> 101,007<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2012<\/p><\/td> 164,167<\/p><\/td> 111,685<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2013<\/p><\/td> 152,680<\/p><\/td> 106,450<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2014<\/p><\/td> 162,341<\/p><\/td> 113,986<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2015<\/p><\/td> 166,119<\/p><\/td> 117,241<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2016<\/p><\/td> 152,375<\/p><\/td> 108,843<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017<\/p><\/td> 128,617<\/p><\/td> 92,568<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018<\/p><\/td> 120,533<\/p><\/td> 87,634<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2019<\/p><\/td> 113,002<\/p><\/td> 83,515<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2020<\/p><\/td> 49,948<\/p><\/td> 37,542<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2021<\/p><\/td> 44,364<\/p><\/td> 33,161<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Year ending June 2022<\/p><\/td> 43,381<\/p><\/td> 32,541<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4728", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-29T12:38:19.063Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "217"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-03-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Non-payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government how many people received a fine for not paying their television licence each year from 2010 to 2022; and how many of those in each year were women.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4542", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Smith of Hindhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Smith of Hindhead"}
], "uin" : "HL6700"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1584681", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1584681/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 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/1547351", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547351/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The requirement to hold, and pay for, a TV Licence is set out in the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004.<\/p> The Ministry of Justice currently publishes the number of prosecutions, convictions and sentencing outcomes for the non-payment of TV licence fees annually as part of their criminal justice statistics quarterly publications, which can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly<\/a><\/p> Figures for each year since 2005 up to 2022 are available in the Outcomes by Offence data tool, and can be found in the following dataset:<\/p>