TV Licensing Visiting Officer Code of Conduct

Given some of the antics we've seen over the years, it is hard to believe that TV Licensing has a "Code of Conduct" it expects employees to comply with.

In practice it's one of those documents that exists on paper, but is ignored on an almost daily basis. The rules exist so that Capita, the TV Licensing operations contractor, can hide behind them when it suits, but turn a blind eye to them when no-one is watching.

We have spoken to former TV Licensing goons who have told us that the rules are quite strict on paper, but managers are fully aware they go out of the window during enquiries.

Below, for educational purposes, is the Code of Conduct TV Licensing goons are expected to comply with. Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes:

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The need to treat each visit confidentially and make the enquiry without causing offence is paramount.

When making a visit, Visiting Officers are expected to:

• Always prove their identity by showing their identity card and on request provide a telephone number so that this can be confirmed.
• Always state why they are visiting.
• Be polite and courteous at all times. This extends to any notes written about the customer/interviewee on the Visit Request and Record of Interview, or elsewhere.
• Conduct enquiries firmly and fairly and in the least intrusive way possible.
• Never threaten or intimidate and to stop the enquiry if asked to leave.
• Only enter a property when given permission.
• When necessary, to take a statement in accordance with the law and to ask the interviewee to sign it as an accurate account of the interview.
• Make sure the interviewee knows the possible consequences where a statement has been taken.

Contact your Visiting Manager if you are unsure of any aspect of the procedures.

You do not have the authority to give "time to pay". Even if a licence is purchased, the interviewee may still be prosecuted for the offence.