Pressure Grows Over TV Licence Prosecutions
Updated: 1:18pm UK, Saturday 08 March 2014
By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent
What crime led to 180,000 people being hauled in front of magistrates in 2012, resulted in 70 prison sentences and accounted for one in nine of all cases heard by the courts?
OK, OK, I know you've read the news story and realise the answer is failure to pay a television licence fee.
Magistrates have long objected to being asked to deliver criminal records to these offenders, who tend to be poor, are often older and about two-thirds of whom are women.
They think it is an over-reaction and a waste of court time.
Instead, they want to divert cases to the civil system, along with parking offences or failure to pay your gas bill.
So could their argument be gathering steam in Parliament?
An amendment calling for the change by Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen is gathering support from across the political divide with a variety of motivations.
Some object to the "poll tax" nature of the fee - a £145.50 levy on the rich and poor is clearly regressive.
Others feel that criminal sanctions including prison are simply not the right response, particularly given the vulnerability of those it affects.
Then there is the idea of easing pressure on courts and prisons appeals across the political system.
And finally, there are those who simply detest the BBC.
The corporation itself would be uneasy about the change because of fears it would reduce the incentive to pay.
Even a 1% rise in evasion would cost £35m, which the Beeb tells us is equivalent to 10 local radio stations (or, to put a different spin on it, 11 Jeremy Clarksons).
What is notable about this story is that Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, has called Mr Bridgen's intervention "really interesting".
He says Maria Miller, the Culture Secretary, agrees and both departments will be doing some "serious work on the proposal".
In reality, any such change would be discussed as part of BBC Charter renewal.
The next round is due to be completed by the end of 2016, with talks starting around 18 months beforehand.
That means the middle of next year - probably not until after the General Election.
The magistrates, it seems, will have to wait.
:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.
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