Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

BBC announces extra support to those ‘struggling to pay’ TV licence fee

The plan is a response to the BBC’s Gender Disparity Review, which was set up to understand why 75% of those prosecuted are women.

Ellie Iorizzo
Thursday 11 May 2023 14:34 BST
A TV licence (Steve Parsons/PA)
A TV licence (Steve Parsons/PA) (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

The BBC has announced increased support for people in “real financial difficulty” to pay for the TV licence fee.

The support plan aims to reduce the number of women who are prosecuted for licence fee evasion following the BBC’s gender disparity review which was set up to understand why 75% of those prosecuted are women.

The review, which was was overseen by independent adviser Baroness Lola Young, found the disparity is largely caused by societal factors and there is no evidence that TV Licensing deliberately discriminates against any group.

Baroness Young of Hornsey said: “The BBC’s action plan has the potential to lead to fewer people – particularly those in real financial difficulty – being prosecuted and that is something to be welcomed. This was a rigorous review which scrutinised a raft of new evidence and concluded there is no single source of the disproportionality that we see in prosecutions.

“As I have said in the report, women and men do not appear to be treated differently. Rather, the societal factors at play are also often present alongside disparities in the criminal justice system, and health and other services.”

The support plan includes a simple payment plan to help spread the cost of a new licence in small instalments over 12 months, a two-month “breathing space” on enforcement action for anyone in financial difficulty “who agrees to a free independent debt advice” and working in partnership with the debt advice charity StepChange.

Clare Sumner, BBC director of policy, says: “While we know societal factors drive the gender disparity, we’re committed to making improvements to our own processes wherever possible.

“Our action plan will improve support for people in real financial difficulty to help them stay licensed and reduce risk of prosecution. We look forward to the new partnership with StepChange and we will closely monitor its impact.

“I would like to thank all those who contributed to the review and Baroness Lola Young for her independent scrutiny and oversight.”

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in