[jmnicolas]

> the penalty for non-payment could not include prison

You mean people really go to prison in the UK because they didn't pay their TV license ? I'm speechless !

[dazc]

They don't go to prison for not having a TV licence. They are fined (I believe incarceration is an option but the courts apply a modicum of common sense in this regard).

However, some people still don't pay and ultimately end up in prison for non-payment of the fine.

[nicky0]

Well that makes it all OK then.

[dazc]

There has to be a sanction for non-payment of fines though. I think the proposal to change the status from criminal to civil is very sensible however. The worst that can happen then is you have a judgement against your name for 6 years.

[jmnicolas]

Seize the TV or other things, but you don't put people in prison for a £150 TV tax in a "democracy" !

Last year, in my country (France) quite a few protestors have lost an eye due to Police violence.

And after that we try to give human right lessons to the rest of the world ... what we're good at is hypocrisy lessons imo.

[Lio]

Sorry, just to repeat the license fee is not a TV tax and is not a requirement for ownership or use of a TV.

It is a requirement if you are going to watch broadcast media with your TV.

If you just watch DVD/Blueray or play console games and don't have an aerial or dish you don't have to pay.

[nicky0]

You don't need a license to own a TV that's right, but damn if you accidentally tune it to ITV4 for 5 seconds while hooking up the DVD player, or if you click on a BBC News (or Sky news for that matter) live stream on the web in your unlicensed house, you are a criminal right there. Literalty that is a criminal offence. Is that proportionate?

[dazc]

The people are put in prison for 'not paying a fine'. They are not put in prison for 'not having a TV licence'.

For someone not wanting to have a TV licence the options are simple:

1)Abide by the law and only watch TV that is not a live broadcast. Then be prepared to defend yourself if you are harassed by the authorities.

2)Don't abide by the law and take your chances. If someone knocks on your door and asks if you have a TV tell them to get lost.

3)Admit to having a TV, face prosecution and pay the fine.

4)If all above fails, and you don't pay the fine, do your time in prison for contempt of court.

None of this is comparable to losing an eye.

[mellosouls]

Think of it as tax evasion; same thing in other countries - if you don't pay your tax, then as a last resort - you go to prison.

If you don't want to pay the license fee, it's entirely your choice to not use the service for which it is mandatory.

[gadders]

Yes. The government is talking about making it a civil, rather than a criminal offence.