Edmonds says no deal to TV licence
Published Date: 14 September 2008
TELEVISION presenter Noel Edmonds yesterday revealed he has stopped paying his TV licence in a protest against the way the BBC "badgers, hectors and threatens" those who evade the charge.
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Licensing officers last night confirmed they are investigating the former BBC presenter, who faces a £1,000 fine if caught watching television.Edmonds, 59, revealed he cancelled his licence several months ago, because he is "incensed" at the way the BBC deals with non-payers.Tactics used by its enforcement agency include detector vans which can operate from up to 60 metres away from a television set.It has a database of almost 30 million addresses to enable it to monitor which properties are unlicensed.The veteran DJ has cancelled his £139.50-a-year payment, despite the fact he insists it is good value for money.The former presenter of BBC TV shows such as Swap Shop and Noel's House Party said there was now "an aggressive culture" in the UK.Edmonds said yesterday: "Auntie's put boxing gloves on. I'm so incensed by the idea that I'm guilty of something that I actually cancelled my licence fee a few months ago. They haven't found me, and nobody's come knocking on the door."Speaking on BBC1's Breakfast show while promoting his latest television project, he added: "There are too many organisations – and the BBC is a fabulous organisation – that seem to think it's okay to badger, hector and threaten people."We all have to care a bit more. We have a society where we blame someone else when something goes wrong"I worked for the BBC for 30 years. When I was at the BBC, it promoted the licence fee by saying how wonderful it was because – let's face it – the BBC licence fee is astonishing value."Now, however, he claimed the BBC said "we know where you are" in its campaigns to catch licence dodgers.Edmonds is currently promoting his new Sky 1 series Noel's HQ, which he said would be responsible for good deeds that would improve people's lives."The politicians – and I'm talking about Gordon Brown – have had their day," he said. "They've had their chance to do it and look at the mess we're now in."He added: "We all have to care a bit more. We have a society where we blame someone else when something goes wrong."Householders are required to purchase a TV licence to use any television receiving equipment, including computers or mobile phones.A TV Licensing spokeswoman said yesterday it was investigating Edmonds' claims. She said: "We are certainly looking into the situation at the moment. We don't have all the facts yet."She added: "Irrespective of Noel Edmonds' personal opinion, the law is clear: anyone caught watching or recording TV programmes without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. TV Licensing's comprehensive database of almost 30 million addresses allows us to see exactly which properties are unlicensed."While we would always prefer people buy a licence rather than risk prosecution and a fine, TV Licensing has a duty to enforce the licence fee on behalf of the honest majority who pay. Unfortunately some people will only buy a licence when warned of the consequences of being unlicensed."Our research shows that 88% of people who expressed an opinion thought it was important that TV Licensing sends a strong message to evaders."Last week, the BBC announced it was giving its audiences the chance to say if they thought the way the licence fee was collected, and the deterrents for evaders, were appropriate.A BBC spokeswoman last night refused to comment on Edmond's case or say whether the organisation would be pressing for the TV presenter to be investigated.Mark Wallace, campaign director for the Taxpayer's Alliance said: "We definitely do have concerns about the rate at which the TV licence has risen in recent years and we have sympathy for people who can't afford to pay it."However, Noel Edmonds is in a more privileged position than other people who might be slapped with a fine."
The majority of the BBC's income is from the license fee 
Noel Edmonds, a British television presenter, has said that he is not paying the television license fee in protest at the way the BBC "badgers, hectors and threatens" people who avoid paying the fee.

"Auntie's put boxing gloves on. I'm so incensed by the idea that I'm guilty of something that I actually cancelled my licence fee a few months ago," said Edmonds, making his non-payment of the fee public on the BBC Breakfast television program.

"There are too many organisations — and the BBC is a fabulous organisation — that seem to think it's OK to badger, hector and threaten people," he continued. "When I was at the BBC, it promoted the licence fee by saying how wonderful it was because — let's face it — the BBC licence fee is astonishing value," added Edmonds explaining the way he believes the license fee should be promoted.

Edmonds also claimed that TV licensing "haven't found me, and nobody's come knocking on the door." This is despite adverts by the organisations that, according to Edmonds, say "we know where you are."

TV Licensing responded to Edmond's comments by saying that "while we would always prefer people buy a licence rather than risk prosecution and a fine, TV Licensing has a duty to enforce the licence fee on behalf of the honest majority who pay."

"Unfortunately some people will only buy a licence when warned of the consequences of being unlicensed."