BBC boss Tim Davie backs prosecution of people who evade licence fee
BBC boss Tim Davie has backed the prosecution of people who evade the TV licence fee, following calls for it to be decriminalised.
The director-general also insisted that its journalists acted “without fear or favour” after a survey showed that just over a third of people think the BBC is “ineffective” at being independent from the Government.
Mr Davie outlined his stance on the licence and the corporation’s journalism as he answered questions from his own staff on the BBC Breakfast sofa.
House Of Commons Library figures show that more than 25,000 people were convicted of evading the £169.50 fee in 2024, the majority of whom were women.
There have been growing calls, including a public consultation in 2020 and a private member’s bill currently being debated, to decriminalise licence fee non-payment for over-75s, with some considering it too harsh a punishment.
“That’s fair”
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Davie said: “If people are evading the licence fee, it should be enforced. I support the current system, yes.”
He added: “For the vast majority of people watching, who we’re there to serve, and this is what we get when we talk to people, they’ll say, we must make sure that those people who should be paying, are paying. That’s fair.”
Mr Davie also said that he has “never doubted” his ability to lead the corporation, as its “Our BBC, Our Future” questionnaire, published on Thursday, found that 38% of viewers surveyed say the BBC is “ineffective” at being independent from the Government.
Polarisation
When asked about the biggest challenge the corporation has dealt with during his tenure, he said: “I actually think the BBC’s choice to maintain impartiality in a world that is so polarised.”
“It’s weaponised, we’ve got lobbies everywhere, it’s absolutely everyone trying to ascribe an agenda,” he said.
“If you make mistakes, it can impact trust, and I worry about that.”
He said: “I can reassure everyone that we are independent editorially, we absolutely act without fear or favour.”
The broadcaster faced criticism earlier this year after it pulled a Gaza documentary in February after it was revealed that a 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.
And in the wake of the controversy about punk band Bob Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury which was played live on the BBC’s iPlayer, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy warned that “several” editorial failures “becomes a problem of leadership”.
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Well I never. For the last two years, I have remained a Radio 2 & 5 live listener (not exclusively) with their 3 minute news bulletins and some further political stuff but due to the rolling TV news channels’’ pro genocide stance, I have been unable to choose this. Therefore, I reserve my right to withhold my licence fee payment until the BBC rejoins the human race. My payment continues thus far but as the world changes course, I fully expect the BBC to follow and I will be monitoring this but there will come a point when I have… Read more »
You don’t need to pay a TV Licence to listen to the radio, broadcast live or not. While there is technically a law in place requiring a ‘radio licence’ to be paid, there is no mechanism by which this can be be paid, it’s de facto unpayable.
The licence for the TV is only payable if you watch television programs/adverts as they are being broadcast.
The government sets out the laws and levels of charge, not the BBC. The Gov mandate the BBC must collect and the sentencing is via courts, there a government is responsible (Coms act 2003 I think). The fee is to receive certain transmissions across many providers. BBC should not be involved with collection. It was also the Tory government that stuffed the BBC in many ways to cause cutbacks, it started with Cameron and free for OAP that the Cons then pulled leaving the BBC strapped for cash. The Dorries pulled further funds denuding the BBC and they had to… Read more »
This started under blair tbh.
It’s been ongoing since licences. But the tory party really messed it up (see OAP free licence debacle). I think the UK needs a public broadcaster and that it is funded. But I also struggle when people like Davies and Gibb, Question Time and Sunday AM politics bat for the far right.
If it was collected by the water companies they’d not need to chase anyone and could save money by shuttering the entire licensing department.
The BBC needs to be freed of all the Tory gits like Davie who were parachuted into top jobs there by the Conservatives. Then perhaps it can return to its public service broadcasting mandate, rather than being the propaganda wing of the Tories/Farage as it is now.
When that happens, I’ll start paying the licence fee again.