British ministers have backed plans to stop jailing people for refusing to pay the TV licence fee, but the BBC has warned
its income could haemorrhage.
A campaign led by Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has found increasing favour with ministers, who complain one-in-10 cases before magistrates covers licence non-payment.
Under the changes, non-payment of the licence – which now stands at £145.50 (€173.99) a year, would be made a civil rather than a criminal offence.
Typically, magistrates jail only when people have refused to pay previous court fines. In 2012, 164,932 people were found guilty of evasion, but just 51 saw prison.
Criminal record
However, a conviction does bring a criminal record
.
The BBC has strongly opposed change, arguing it should be postponed and discussed as part of the renegotiation of the broadcaster’s charter, which is up for renewal in late 2016.
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg last week voiced concerns about changing the law, saying he was "certainly not decided" a change is merited. "Just a small drop [in licence fee income] would mean that you are suddenly not able to fund a number of local radio stations, for instance," he warned.
