Licence fee dodgers punishments are 'unfair' says Culture Secretary

Licence fee dodgers face punishments that ‘increasingly disproportionate and unfair’ Culture Secretary admitted as fines of £1,000 can be handed out and prison sentences for those who refuse to pay

• Lucy Frazer said a review into BBC’s funding will consider the punishments 

Licence fee dodgers face punishments that are ‘increasingly disproportionate and unfair’, the Culture Secretary admitted yesterday.

Lucy Frazer said a Government review into the BBC’s funding will consider whether a mandatory TV licence fee with criminal penalties is still appropriate.

Failure to pay the £159 yearly fee can lead to a fine of £1,000 and prison sentences can be handed out if individuals deliberately refuse to pay fines.

Ms Frazer told Parliament she was ‘concerned’ that the criminal measure seemed at odds with a ‘modern service broadcasting system’.

Conservative MP Stephen Metcalfe noted that 18 per cent of all female prosecutions in 2021 were for the non-possession of a TV licence, which he said seemed ‘completely unreasonable’.

The MP requested a meeting with Ms Frazer to hand her a 250,000-signature petition calling for decriminalisation.

BBC bosses have previously suggested that decriminalisation would cost it more than £1billion over five years, resulting in significant cuts.

Licence fee dodgers face punishments that are ‘increasingly disproportionate and unfair’, the Culture Secretary admitted yesterday

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