February 10, 2020

The Government says that it is right to look again at decriminalising TV licence evasion “in order to ensure a proportionate and fair approach to licence fee penalties and payments is in place, which protects the most vulnerable in our society”.

The consultation will seek responses on whether to decriminalise evasion and give consideration to how this could happen. The determining factors that the Government will consider include:

• would an alternative, non-criminal enforcement scheme be fairer and more proportionate?
• what the cost is and how difficult it would be to implement any alternative scheme?
• what is the potential impact on licence fee payers, particularly the most vulnerable and those with protected characteristics?
• what is the overall impact on licence fee collection?

The consultation closes on 1 April 2020 and is open to both members of the public and organisations. To access the consultation, click here.