LOCAL MP Stephen Metcalfe spoke up in the House of Commons today (Thursday, 15 June) calling for an investigation and change into the way TV licence prosecutions are undertaken.

Mr Metcalfe, the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, was particularly concerned about the number of women who are being targeted and prosecuted – often with deeply damaging consequences, and often without genuine cause.

He has highlighted the case of a Basildon resident Josiane Bazatoha whose petition calling for a change in the law has attracted more than a quarter of a million signatures.

Speaking in the Commons and questioning Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Mrs Lucy Frazer, Mr Metcalfe said: "18 per cent of all female criminal prosecutions in 20/21 were for the non-possession of a television licence which seems completely unreasonable.

"Will my right honourable friend agree to meet with me and my constituent Josieann to discuss this further and to receive a 250,000 signature petition asking for decriminalisation?"

Mrs Frazer has agreed to the meeting and said: "I am concerned that the criminal sanctions for TV licence evasion is increasingly disproportionate and unfair in a modern broadcasting system.

Stephen Metcalfe and Josiane Bazatoha.

"Our review of the BBC funding model will consider whether a mandatory licence with criminal penalties is still appropriate and

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"The BBC has recently published its findings of a gender disparity and set out a ten point plan of action which we will be monitoring."

Miss Bazatoha is a lone parent living in Basildon and has detailed what happened to her.

She says: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, shortly after I had moved out on my own for the first time, having to juggle my own finances and support my baby, I was criminally prosecuted by TV Licensing for not paying my TV Licence.

"The charges were eventually dropped, but it was a deeply stressful experience.

"When I got the letter telling me I was being prosecuted, I couldn't believe it. I wasn't even being prosecuted for avoiding them - I had tried to resolve the problem with them directly, calling and emailing to sort out the payment issues.

"I was a single parent, struggling financially and it was clearly not in the public interest to prosecute me. I worried that a criminal conviction might cause all sorts of problems in my life.

"It caused me sleepless nights and even impacted my ability to parent as I was so worried and distracted. I managed to find free legal help from the charity and law practice APPEAL. The charges were dropped.

"But not everyone is so lucky. There were 50,000 prosecutions brought by TV licensing last year.

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"I can't help but think of all the people that are going to be struggling during the cost-of-living crisis – the last thing they need is a criminal conviction on top!"