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1100 people in Cornwall caught watching TV without a valid licence

By WBKatri  |  Posted: January 25, 2013

1100 people in Cornwall caught watching TV without a licence

1100 people in Cornwall caught watching TV without a licence

Comments (12)

MORE than 1100 people were caught watching TV without a license in Cornwall during the first six months of 2012.

The figure contributes to a national total of 204,000 costing the BBC over £200 million in lost income per year.

A TV Licensing spokesperson said: "In the first six months of 2012, 1108 people in Cornwall were caught watching TV without a valid license.

"The number of evaders caught in a locality changes from time to time and can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the visiting patterns of TV Licensing enquiry officers.

"On behalf of the honest majority of people in Cornwall and across the UK who do pay, we will prosecute evaders."

Anyone found to be watching live TV without a license risks a court prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000 plus court costs and a victim surcharge of £15 - and they will still need to buy a TV License if they require one.

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  • jimjams2011  |  January 29 2013, 9:26PM

    Buy a HD projector for the same price as a TV Licence, watch television programmes 'on demand', cinema style. Never have to pay for a licence. easy.

  • Jonny2010  |  January 25 2013, 8:39PM

    To be honest most of the "news" stories that are published on this website are just press releases. AnGof2012 is spot on. I would highly recommend going onto Youtube and searching for "TV Licence" - some great vids of them trying to bully people. Tell them nothing, and do not let them into your home.

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  • DogsDanglies  |  January 25 2013, 3:23PM

    Easy. Scrap the TV license and make the BBC pay its own way. If people want to watch the Beeb they then have a choice. DD

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  • Doitdreckley  |  January 25 2013, 2:27PM

    The BBC expect people to cough up for services that they might not use. Even if they do, they have no say over how the BBC conducts itself as it is accountable to the Government.

  • AnGof2012  |  January 25 2013, 1:52PM

    I refuse to pay the TV licence full stop. The TV licence enforcers have no right of access to your home, no right to ask you anything and you don't have to speak to them. Tell them to clear off and take their rubbish TV with them. Say nothing to them, tell them to leave your property and SIGN nothing.

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  • bissoeboy  |  January 25 2013, 11:34AM

    It would be nice to be given a choice to pay the TV licence in exchange for accessing BBC content instead of being forced. On the rare occasion I do watch TV it's via online streaming, through a provider I pay a small monthly subscription for. I get to watch what I want when I want this way. I would have no problem paying on the same basis for BBC TV and Radio, but in a time where everyone is tightening their belts I begrudge paying this amount for a service I hardly use.

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  • Yahoocom  |  January 25 2013, 11:21AM

    This highlights the typical scare tactics used by TV Licensing. In the past I have been pestered (harassed?) by TV Licensing saying that they were about to take action against me for a house that wasn't built! Look at the figures you have repeated, 204,000 people costing more than £200 million? That's almost £1,000 per person... Did they put the licence up to £1,000 without me noticing? I am disappointed you give TV Licensing an opportunity to perpetuate the scaremongering while over stating the facts, please check the facts before you publish this type of thing....

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  • Jonny2010  |  January 25 2013, 11:17AM

    How were these people caught exactly? Do not let TV Licensing into your home!!! The ***** BBC makes enough money as it is.

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  • Jonny2010  |  January 25 2013, 11:15AM

    Do not be bullied by so-called TV Licensing.

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  • Green Ginger Studios  |  January 25 2013, 11:03AM

    I don't have a television. I haven't had a television since 2003. I hate television. I hate the trash that its spews out into peoples lives. However, the good people at TV Licensing (outsourced to ****ita by the way) don't seem to believe me. Every few months a letter arrives. The letter doesn't ask "have you changed your mind and bought a television?". Instead, the letter says "this is what will happen to you in court". It is indeed a sad state of society. My mind is my own and they don't seem to believe me.

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