dyfed powys magistrates
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Dyfed Powys Magistrates. 21st March 2013. What will today ’ s presentation cover?. A summary of our work The prosecution process The local picture An opportunity to ask questions. What is TV Licensing?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Dyfed Powys Magistrates
21st March 2013
Confidential
What will today’s presentation cover?
A summary of our work
The prosecution process
The local picture
An opportunity to ask questions
What is TV Licensing?
TV Licensing is a trade mark used by agents contracted by the BBC to administer the collection of TV Licence fees and enforcement of the TV Licensing system
Capita manages prosecutions, call centres and the field force
iQor administer TV Licensing’s cash payment schemes, including call centres
Administration and collection of TV
Licence fee
Enforcement of TV Licensing system
Help for those who need a licence,
provision of information and
payment methods to suit all
Prosecution: a last resort against those
who evade paying the licence fee
Did you know?
A colour TV Licence costs £145.50; a black and white licence costs £49
You need a TV Licence if you watch or record programmes as they are being shown on TV
The law is the same regardless of the technology used: laptop, mobile phone, iPad
Around 97% of households own a TV
The vast majority are correctly licensed - only 5.2% evade the Licence Fee
30% of those prosecuted last year were found to have satellite or cable subscriptions when their
property was checked
Some facts
Did you know?
People aged 75 or over qualify for a free licence
Blind and severely sight impaired people qualify for a 50% concession
The Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) Licence costs £7.50 a year and allows certain residents who live in
homes qualifying for the scheme to install and use TV receiving equipment in their unit of accommodation
TV is as popular as ever with people watching more than ever before
Some more facts
How people pay
70.2%Pay by Direct Debit
9.5%Pay by Credit / Debit card
8.0% Pay by Payment Card
5.9%Pay by PayPoint
2.2%Pay by Savings Card
0.2% Pay by home banking
0.1%Pay at Post Office on Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man
All figures are for 2011/12 financial year
Helping people to pay
The Payment Card helps people spread the cost of their TV Licence
• Pay online, over the phone or by text message
• There are 23,000 PayPoint outlets – currently 1.5m people choose to make payments in this way
• Check account status, payment schedule and arrears online or via our automated telephone service
TV Licensing sends over 60,000 text message reminders each month to Payment Card members who have opted into the service
70,000 new members join the scheme each month, but year on year growth is just 60,000
Working with stakeholders
TV Licensing works with third parties to provide information through the legal system and a range of stakeholder organisations including:
• Citizens Advice
• Institute of Money Advisers
• Age UK
• RNIB
• Mencap
• National Union of Students
• Federation of Small Businesses
And not just national organisations. We also work with regional and local organisations such as:
• Citizens Advice Bureaux
• Councils and housing associations
Speaking your language
TV Licensing provides a range of information in foreign languages
There are:
• 16 languages available on www.tvlicensing.co.uk
• 180 languages available via our telephone translation service
We also distribute leaflets to community organisations in 18 languages
Who are evaders?
AB Middle class and above: doctors, architects, lawyers, senior managersC1 Lower middle class: middle management, policemenC2 Skilled working class: nurses, salesmen, publicansD Working class: manual workersE Lowest subsistence level: state pensioners, casual workers, unemployed
According to BARB (Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board) around 97% of households currently own TVs
E AB
D
C2C1
E AB
D
C2C1
Social grade distribution of properties needing a licence –
licensable base
Social grade distribution of unlicensed properties
20 weeks to avoid court for 1st time evaders
Address is shown as unlicensed on TV
Licensing database
Individual advised to buy a licence and informed of
the payment options
TV Licensing monitors the database to see
if a licence has been purchased
Repeat evaders are prosecuted with no
further letters
TV Licensing will apply to withdraw prosecution
where first time offenders purchase a licence
An interview conducted under
caution when evasion is suspected
Reminder letterssent , telephone contact may also
be attempted
If no response, an enquiry
officer visits
First-time evaders may avoid prosecution if
they purchase a licence immediately
The general rule: no prosecution for first-time evaders who subsequently buy a TV Licence and keep up payments
The enforcement process
A popular excuse
Many evaders claim that an enquiry officer told them they would not be prosecuted if they bought a licence
It is a disciplinary offence for an enquiry officer to say or suggest this
The Record of Interview clearly states:
“Please note: the enquiry officer who conducted this interview does not have the authority to give you time to pay. Even if you purchase the appropriate
licence, you may still be prosecuted for the offence. If you pay for your licence in instalments, you must ensure that your payments are kept up to date.”
“I have been told that it is in my own interest to obtain a TV Licence although I may still be prosecuted for any unlicensed use.”
And (by the signature line):
Our prosecution policy
TV Licensing policy is based on the code for Crown Prosecutors
A decision to prosecute is taken by the Court Administrator, treating each case on its individual merits
Each decision must satisfy both evidential and public interest tests
Public interest is rarely served by prosecuting:
• Genuine babysitters
• Seriously ill, disabled or otherwise mentally incapacitated
TV Licensing prosecutes those with a black and white licence who have a colour TV
The regional picture
From March 2012 to November 2012 there was an estimated £1,376,576 in potential lost revenue due to licence fee evasion in the Dyfed Powys area.
Around 441 evaders were caught
TV Licensing prosecuted c. 185 evaders
Dyfed Powys monthly fines
Welsh average fines and costs
Thank you!
We take on board your feedback and implement changes where possible. This has resulted in:
• Redesign of the TV Licensing interview form
• Requests for:
– National Insurance numbers
– Dates of birth
– Telephone numbers
• Continued cleansing of data
• Quicker processing of repeat evaders
But…what more could we do?
Thank you
Warren Carr, TV Licensing Campaign Office
xxxxxxxxxx, Capita Court Presenter