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TV licence dodgers at their worst in Newham
By Rashid Razaq, Evening Standard Last updated at 10:39am on 17.04.07
Officials caught 3,914 evaders in Newham
More people dodge buying a TV licence in Newham than any other borough in the country, according to figures today.
Officials caught 3,914 evaders in Newham, with 55,287 householders found watching TV illegally in the capital last year - the highest nationwide. Brent was the London borough with the second highest number - 3,362 licence fee evaders. Haringey had 2,919, Ealing 2,570 and Greenwich 2,443.
More people were caught in London than Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester combined. And Newham alone contains more licence evaders than Sheffield, Newcastle or Cardiff.
Across Britain nearly 400,000 people were found without a licence. However the total number caught in London was down 13 per cent on last year as more heeded the warning to buy a £131.50 colour licence or face a £1,000 fine.
A TV Licensing spokeswoman said: "We are sending a clear warning to anyone who thinks they can get away without paying for a TV licence."
Reader views (14)
BBC used to stand for quality. Now it is all sensationalist and made by and for "the new Britain". I can not recognize my fellow citizens anymore in the programming. Especially the news has gone down hill.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
I agree with Fredy. It seems to me that the BBC has some sort of hidden agenda. On another note, the quality of progarmming can be poor; Eastenders is abysmal.
- Simon, London, UK
The TV license is an anachronism which should be ended. Let the BBC go on the open market or solicit subscriptions.
- R M, London, UK
Keep the TV licence. The BBC stands alone as a broadcaster uninterrupted by endless shoddy commercials, and as a user of BBC analogue, digital, radio, DAB and online services I think they are value for money; there really is something for everyone, BBC4 and BBC7 being my own pet favourites. It would be sad indeed if the BBC were eventually to slide into becoming just another franchised broadcaster more concerned with its advertising revenues, endlessly showing mindless drivel for morons (ITV1 anybody?).
- Jk, London, UK
As usual we are dictated to and forced to pay the TV license and no one even listens to our objections about it. Maybe if the BBC took the time to listen to the public less people would be upset about paying for their license. But the chances of that happening are slim to nil.
- Tracey-Ann, London
The majority of people I've spoken to would happily see the licence scrapped and as for the BBC not showing adverts - then what are all those items between programmes? BBC adverts for BBC products, channels etc and the morning news programme is padded out with items about other BBC programmes. All seems pretty commercial to me.
- Mm, London
I do think we should be paying a tax of sorts but the fact of the matter is we are paying too much and not seeing anything for our money. If all channels were able to operate without advertising that would be even better. If they could promise better quality TV, I'm all for paying the license.
- Niamh, Morden
It is appalling that we still have the TV license. We just keep on paying for it every month and have no choice but to do so, even if you get your television services elsewhere and also don't watch the BBC. It's not worth the money we pay.
- Allyearsleaving, London
I don't think we actually see the money we pay reflected in the BBC's output. The BBC's objective inform, educate and entertain, well I just don't feel that we are getting any of those things. Perhaps if they made the shows the people want we'd be happier to pay the license.
- Maggie, Battersea
I know I'm in the minority here but I don't have a problem paying my TV license as I enjoy what the BBC provides. I prefer not to have my shows interupted by adverts throughout and I do genuinely find a lot of the BBC output greatly interesting. I think we do take the service the BBC provide very much for granted.
- Elsie, Croydon
Yet again, Newham is made out to be an unlawful place. The fact is we have a large population from overseas, who stay in the Borough for short periods. Could one of the explanations be that no-one is advising theses welcome visitors of the need for a TV licence as we are one of the few countries in the EU that has such a licensing system. There will be those who say ignorance of the law is no excuse but we have countless laws that even long term UK residents are unaware of.
- Bob Smith, Newham,London,UK
Will someone please explain why we still need to have a publicly funded broadcaster with a compulsory licence system? It is about as sensible and relevant today as a Newspaper licence.
Imagine, you are caught reading the Sun without a newspaper licence (the funds from which are used to prop up the Guardian) even though you never read the Guardian.
Scrap the licence without delay.
- Ivor, Harrow, UK
One also has to question what happens with all that money. BBC is no longer a quality producer of news or other programmes. It is too one-sided and minority centric.
- Fredy, London
I think its time the BBC scrapped the TV license. It's an unfair tax and as so many people are now paying to recieve TV via digital and don't watch any BBC channels to charge people is unfair. Time the bosses had a rethink on this.
- Bob, Amersham
