TV licence fee fines being decided behind closed doors

TENS of thousands of people every year are being convicted for not holding a TV Licence in hearings held behind closed doors.

They are being sentenced in office rooms in the absence of defendants and their lawyers. The hearings are simply decided by a magistrate sitting with a legal advisor, even though the hearings can result in people being fined up to £1,000 and getting a criminal record.

The revelation comes after the Daily Mail this week exposed the underhand tactics used by the BBC’s licence fee officers. A TV Licensing manager told an undercover reporter that officers are incentivised to catch as many evaders as possible.

Vulnerable people targeted include a young mother in a women’s refuge and a war veteran with dementia.

Last night, MPs said it was very worrying that residents can be found guilty of licence fee evasion without making their case in court. Closed court hearings – Single Justice Procedures (SJP) – were introduced by the Ministry of Justice two years ago. Defendants can request a conventional hearing in open court if they so wish. But if they choose not to attend the hearing or don’t receive the paperwork, the hearing will still go ahead in their absence.

There are fears SJPs can result in people being convicted without their knowledge. TV Licensing has admitted that some cases go ahead even when defendants have not responded to postal notices.

Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: ‘It is very concerning that there is the possibility people can be prosecuted without knowing about it.

Justice needs to be seen to be done.’ The Ministry of Justice said defendants convicted without knowing can make a statutory declaration and then have their case heard in open court.

BBC Director- General Lord Hall has denounced the bullying tactics used by Capita – the firm responsible for collecting TV licence fees.