The BBC has refused to release a report into the conduct of its TV Licensing contractor Capita Business Services.
Earlier this year an investigation by the Daily Mail revealed the sinister and deceitful tactics employed by some Capita TV Licensing employees in their pursuit of alleged TV licence evaders. An undercover reporter, posing as a Capita TV Licensing job applicant, obtained covert video footage of company manager Ian Doyle confirming that Capita TV Licensing visiting officers are effectively incentivised for taking prosecution statements.
The TV Licensing Blog has previously voiced its grave concerns about a commission system that rewards Capita TV Licensing employees for gathering as much prosecution evidence as possible. To be blunt, we worry that some Capita TV Licensing goons will be tempted to fabricate prosecution evidence in order to line their own pockets. It would certainly not be the first time that Capita TV Licensing employees had diddled the system.
The BBC denies that Capita TV Licensing goons are rewarded for gathering prosecution statements, but then again it would do, wouldn't it? Judge for yourself from Doyle's comments to the undercover reporter: "We're looking to get 28 licence sales per week from each officer. As soon as you hit that magic 28 there's a bonus. You can only get a sale with a conviction statement."
In the wake of the Daily Mail exposé there was understandable and entirely justified criticism of Capita, which holds the lucrative BBC TV Licensing operations contract. BBC Director General Tony Hall wrote a letter to Capita CEO Andy Parker demanding an urgent investigation into the Daily Mail's findings.
A few days ago the BBC refused a Freedom of Information request to release the Capita report using the catch-all excuse that it was intended for future publication at time unknown.
The BBC added: "We do not consider that there is particular public interest in the early release of this information".
It comes as no surprise that the BBC wants to keep these report findings hidden. It's what the BBC does best - bury bad news about its own shortcomings.
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Their logo is so appropriate. We're nothing more than a box or circle to tick, any way, any how.
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