The BBC has revealed that eleven TV Licensing enquiry officers have been convicted of criminal offences committed in the course of their employment since 2005.
The shocking revelation comes a month after our dogged pursuit of the BBC forced them to admit for the first time that TV detector van evidence has never been used in court.
Using the Freedom of Information Act we asked the BBC to identify those TV Licensing employees convicted of criminal wrongdoing in the pursuit of their official TVL duties. Cheekily we aired some of the BBC's dirty linen in public by using the request as a further platform to shame two of the BBC's most irrepressible TV Licensing crooks - David Clark and Richard Llewellyn.
Replying to our request for information, BBC legal advisor Dan McGregor said: "In addition to the two individuals you have identified in your request, nine TV Licensing enquiry officers have been convicted of criminal offences committed during the course of their TV licensing (sic) duties.
"All nine convictions were for fraud / theft related offences. I would note that TV licensing (sic) employs a large number of enquiry officers and that these nine individuals (together with the two you have identified) therefore represent a very small proportion of the total group. Further, I would note that the criminal activity of each of these individuals was discovered by TV Licensing itself through the use of robust fraud auditing processes."
Unfortunately McGregor refused to name and shame the other TV Licensing convicts, citing data protection exemptions to the FOIA. As we understand it those convicted of criminal activity lose their right to anonymity, although this is not a point of law we consider necessary to pursue on this occasion.
That said people have the right to know who these convicted TV Licensing scumbags are, so we reserve the right to use alternative identification methods.
And we will.
Under the FOIA, have you asked them for the total number of "Enforcement Officers" in their employ? The TVL response of employs a large number of enquiry officers and that these nine individuals (together with the two you have identified) therefore represent a very small proportion of the total group, because I am curious as to what the percentage is of rogue EOs compared to the population at large. My guess would be that the figure would be considerably higher than the national average.
ReplyDeleteLets not forget the latest to the TVLs list of criminals - the convicted rapist Gary Catterick.
With an employee track record like this, is it any wonder that single women or elderly/disabled people, are wisely reluctant to let these criminals and thugs into their homes? I certainly won't be.