As mentioned in our previous post, TV Licensing's PR harlots regularly deliver information sessions to members of the Magistracy.
The author of the influential Justice of the Peace blog has previously commented on this unusual state of affairs, which effectively sees TV Licensing touting for business in the courts: "TV Licensing is but one of many prosecuting bodies which use the Magistrates' Courts system to enforce their regulations. For those unaware, using a TV without a licence is a criminal offence. It is also a criminal offence to be a ticket tout, to ill-treat an animal, or to contravene planning regulations. The organisations responsible for bringing prosecutions on those matters do not send regular information to Magistrates. I question why TV Licensing does so. Is it to inform Magistrates who adjudicate on such cases or to subtly influence them in general? If the latter I can assure them that they have failed totally."
For all TV Licensing reluctantly admits to holding Magistrates' Court indoctrination sessions, they are less forthcoming about the information they actually convey to the Justices on such occasions. Several previous attempts have been made to obtain a full copy of the TV Licensing Court Briefing presentation from the BBC, but all have resulted in only partial disclosure.
It seems, for whatever reason, that the BBC really doesn't want the public to know what they're telling Magistrates on slide 11 of the presentation.
Unfortunately for them Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has a more transparent approach when it comes to divulging information aimed at the judiciary.
The full contents of slide 11, which the BBC tries to keep hidden from public view, can be seen in this disclosure document.
In particular note that if you're a first-time evader TV Licensing shouldn't, in theory, prosecute you if you buy a licence immediately when caught.
Hang on a dingly-dangly-doo!
ReplyDeleteThat very last slide:
"TV Licensing will apply to withdraw the prosecution where first time offenders purchase a licence"
That once and for all proves that when TV Goon Licence HQ DOES continue to proceed with prosecution against first time offenders, then they have breached their OWN rules and protocols, thus showing to the courts that their very own actions are indeed vexatious and not in the public interest!
Come to think of it, there's a current thread on the resistance forum where some poor soul has just received a summons for a first time offence even though he bought (or should that read forced?) a licence there and then by the door step Goon scum.
Will the blog admins be able to upload the full request/response email or paper trail that was sent to HMCTS?
TVL offers secret ‘court training sessions’ to magistrates. In response to FOI request RFI20100933 [dated 07/07/2010], the BBC refused to disclose the content of those sessions. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_tv_licensings
ReplyDeletehttps://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/40964/response/105246/attach/html/4/RFI20100933%20Disclosure%20document%20ppt%20Read%20Only.pdf.html
Following the BBC’s refusal in the matter of magistrates training sessions, an FOI request was then submitted to HM Courts & Tribunals Service. In response to FOI request 86407 [dated 25/10/13], HMCTS initially sought to evade the issue. Worryingly, when the issue was pressed, HMCTS admitted that they had no idea as to the frequency or content of these sessions.
A magistrate who has attended the "training" will (perhaps subconsciously) believe that the accessed is already not a first-time evader, and this is bound to be prejudicial.
ReplyDeleteThus the BBC/TVL are misleading magistrates.
The BBC and TV Licensing are in the business of deliberately misleading (e.g. lying to) people.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of former BBC HR boss Lucy Adams being accused of lying to the House of Commons Culture Committee.