TV License evaders caught

Richard Jackson made this Freedom of Information request to British Broadcasting Corporation

The request was partially successful.

From: Richard Jackson

27 June 2008

Dear Sir or Madam,

In reponse to a previous FOI request (Reference: [email address]),
it is stated that in 2007 413664 evaders were caught. This appears
to be defined as the number of people from whom "prosecution
statements" were taken.

Can you please clarify what a "prosecution statement" is, and under
what circumstances such a statement is taken.

If there are any training materials or other documents provided to
whomever takes these prosecution statements, detailing what such a
statement is, how to take one, and/or other matters relating to the
taking of such, please provide these, or details where they are
otherwise currently avaiable.

Yours faithfully,

Richard

Link to this

From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

30 June 2008

Dear Mr Jackson,

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, about TV Licensing prosecution statements, which
was received on 27 June 2008. We shall deal with your request as
promptly as possible and, at the latest, within 20 working days. If you
have any queries about your request please contact us at the address
below.

The reference number for your request is RFI20080690.

Kind regards.

The Information Policy and Compliance Team
BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252, BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

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From: Richard Jackson

29 July 2008

Dear Sir/Madam,

With regard to my enquiry of June 27, your reference RFI20080690, I
believe that I should have received a response by now.

I note that I did get a response to my other enquiry of the same
date (reference RFI20080689), but as if it were a response to
_this_ enquiry, so perhaps the two might have gotten mixed up at
your end?

Thanks,

Richard

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From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

29 July 2008

Dear Mr Jackson

Thank you for your email.

Please accept our apologies for the delay in processing your request -
RFI20080690. We are currently working on a response and aim to have
this emailed to you not later than 4 August.

Apologies once again.

Yours sincerely

Information Policy and Compliance

BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252
BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi/
Email: mailto:[BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

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Link to this

From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

1 August 2008

Attachment RFI20080690 final response.pdf
122K Download View as HTML

Attachment RFI20080690 disclosure docuement TVL Visiting Procedures.pdf
322K Download View as HTML

<<RFI20080690 - final response.pdf>> <<RFI20080690 - disclosure docuement
- TVL Visiting Procedures.pdf>>
Dear Mr Jackson

Please find attached the response to your request made under the terms of
the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I apologise for the delay in sending
this response to you.

Yours sincerely

Fern Kersey
Adviser, Information Policy and Compliance

BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252
BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: [1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi/
Email: [2]mailto:[BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

[3]http://www.bbc.co.uk
This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal
views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated.
If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system.
Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in
reliance on it and notify the sender immediately.
Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received.
Further communication will signify your consent to this.

References

Visible links
1. file://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/
2. mailto:[BBC request email]
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/

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From: Richard Jackson

5 August 2008

Dear Fern / Natalie

Thank you for this response, reference RFI20080690.

I note that in point 2 of the response you provide a list of
documents on which you say that "the majority" are outside the
scope of the Act. Can you please clarify explicitly which you
believe to be outside the scope?

I would also ask you to review the amount of redaction that has
been applied to the TV Licensing Visiting Procedures document
provided. I find it difficult to believe that all the redacted
sections would prejudice the detection of crime, particularly when
at least some of the information redacted is not purely "internal"
material, but includes information explicitly shown to
interviewees!

Yours sincerely,

Richard

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From: Richard Jackson

2 October 2008

Dear Sir or Madam,

Can you please provide an update on this request (RFI20080690), and
details of when I might receive a response?

Yours sincerely,

Richard Jackson

Link to this

From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

3 October 2008

Attachment RFI20080690 final response.pdf
122K Download View as HTML

Attachment RFI20080690 disclosure docuement TVL Visiting Procedures.pdf
322K Download View as HTML

Dear Mr Jackson,

Further to your email of October 2nd asking for an update on your request
RFI20080690, and details of when you might receive a response, I can
confirm that the response to your request was sent on August 1st 2008 -
the email with the response and disclosure document attached is forwarded
below.

I have checked the address the response was sent to and it seems to be
correct ([FOI #926 email]) but perhaps there was a
technical issue on the website.

Please do come back to us if you still have any issues viewing the
response.

Kind Regards

L Wright
Information Policy and Compliance

BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252, White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: [1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [2][BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

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From: Richard Jackson

3 October 2008

Dear Sir/Madam,

I was not referring to my original request, but to my follow-up
request for clarification and internal review, sent on 5th August,
as can clearly be seen on the website:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/926

Please advise.

Richard

Link to this

From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

6 October 2008

Dear Mr Jackson,

Apologies, but we have checked back against correspondence of August 5th
and can find no record of receiving your request for clarification and
an internal review.

We have looked at the link provided below and cannot see the
correspondence to which you refer.

Please could you resend your request for clarification and an internal
review and we will look into it. You should receive an acknowledgement
to your request the following working day.

Kind Regards

L Wright
Information Policy and Compliance

BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252, White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

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Link to this

From: Richard Jackson

6 October 2008

Dear Sir/Madam,

I completely fail to understand how you can claim not to see the
correspondence at the URL provided, as the entire thread is set out
plainly in chronological order. However, please find below another
copy.

Yours sincerely,

Richard

-----

Dear Fern / Natalie

Thank you for this response, reference RFI20080690.

I note that in point 2 of the response you provide a list of
documents on which you say that "the majority" are outside the
scope of the Act. Can you please clarify explicitly which you
believe to be outside the scope?

I would also ask you to review the amount of redaction that has
been applied to the TV Licensing Visiting Procedures document
provided. I find it difficult to believe that all the redacted
sections would prejudice the detection of crime, particularly when
at least some of the information redacted is not purely "internal"
material, but includes information explicitly shown to
interviewees!

Yours sincerely,

Richard

Link to this

From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

7 October 2008

Dear Mr Jackson

We have received your request for an internal review relating to your FOIA
request - reference number RFI20080690 . The information you requested
was about Television Licensing visiting procedures. Your request for an
internal review was received on 6 October. We shall deal with the review
as promptly as possible and, at the latest, within 30 working days. If
you have any queries please contact us at the address below.

The reference number for your internal review is IR2008037 .

Your sincerely

Fern Kersey
Adviser, Information Policy and Compliance

BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252
BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi/
Email: [1]mailto:[BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

[2]http://www.bbc.co.uk
This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal
views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated.
If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system.
Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in
reliance on it and notify the sender immediately.
Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received.
Further communication will signify your consent to this.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[BBC request email]
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/

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From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

4 November 2008

Dear Mr Jackson

Further to my email of 7 October, I regret to inform you that there will
be a delay in issuing the decision following an internal review into your
FOIA request. We anticipate that we will respond to you not later than
Friday 5 December.

Please accept our apologies.

Yours sincerely

Fern Kersey
Adviser, Information Policy and Compliance

BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252
BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi/
Email: [1]mailto:[BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

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From: Richard Jackson

7 November 2008

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your recent response. However, I would draw your
attention to the guidance from the Information Commissioner that
says that reviews should be handled within 20 working days, and
although in a small number of exceptional circumstances it may be
necessary to take longer, it should never take longer than 40 days.

You were late with the initial response, and my request for review
has been outstanding since 5th August. You have given me no
indication as to what the exceptional circumstances are here.
Unless I receive a more satisfactory response within the next week
I see little option but to refer this matter to the Commissioner.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Jackson

Link to this

From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

7 November 2008

Dear Mr Jackson

Thank you for your email. Your comments have been noted.

Yours sincerely

The Information Policy and Compliance Team

BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252
BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi/
Email: mailto:[BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

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From: Richard Jackson

7 May 2009

Dear Sir/Madam,

Can you please provide an update on my internal review request
(RFI20080690)? It is now over 10 months since the original request,
over 7 months since the request for review, and over 5 months since
your last estimated date for response.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Jackson

Link to this

From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

7 May 2009

Dear Mr Jackson

Thank you for your email, repeated below.

I apologise for the delay in considering your request for internal
review. We are still working on providing your response and will write
to update you again on Friday 15 May if we have not issued a reply by
that time.

Kind regards,

Fern Kersey
Adviser, Information Policy and Compliance

BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252
BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi/
Email: mailto:[BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

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Neil left an annotation (26 July 2009)

I note that the 15th May 2009 has been and gone.

Link to this

From: Richard Jackson

28 July 2009

Dear Sir/Madam,

Can you please provide an update on my internal review request
(RFI20080690)? It is now over 2 months since the last date by which
you promised to reply, and over a year since the original request!

Yours sincerely,

Richard Jackson

Link to this

From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

30 July 2009

Dear Mr Jackson

Thank you for your email.

It is with regret that I must advise you we are still working on
providing your response. This further delay is due to staff changes
within the Television Licensing Unit. We hope to provide you with a
response in September and once again apologise for the long delay.

Kind regards,

Fern Kersey
Adviser, Information Policy and Compliance

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Peter Offen left an annotation (27 October 2009)

September has come and gone...

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Chris left an annotation ( 5 December 2009)

Screw them. Go straight to the Commissioner. They're blatantly trying to fob you off here.

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From: FOI Enquiries
British Broadcasting Corporation

13 August 2010

Attachment IR2008037 revised disclosure.pdf
1.4M Download View as HTML

Attachment IR2008037 Decision R Jackson.pdf
70K Download View as HTML

Please find attached the response to your request for an Internal Review
of your original request - RFI20080883 - considered under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act.

We extend our sincere apologies for this delay.

Kind regards,

Information Policy and Compliance Team

BBC Freedom of Information
Room 2252
BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TS, UK

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/foi/
Email: [1]mailto:[BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2883
Fax: 020 8008 2398

[2]http://www.bbc.co.uk
This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal
views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated.
If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system.
Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in
reliance on it and notify the sender immediately.
Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received.
Further communication will signify your consent to this.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[BBC request email]
mailto:[BBC request email]
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/

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Watchkeeper left an annotation (19 September 2011)

"... I am satisfied as a result of my enquiries that all of the documents, save for the Procurator Fiscal’s Guide to TV Licensing, are not in the physical possession of the BBC nor does the BBC exercise any control over them; nor does the BBC access them or use them in any way; nor did the BBC have any hand in creating those documents. I am assured that those documents have been created by Capita, the outsourced service provider for TV Licensing, in order to train its own staff on how to enforce the TV Licensing procedures and systems and they are not (and have not been) shared with the BBC."

A case of "nuffink to do wiv me, Guv" apparently. And yet from the BBC's own hand:

"The BBC is a public authority in respect of its television licensing functions and retains overall responsibility."

If Capita is training its own staff on how to enforce the TV Licensing procedures and systems it surely can only do so under the watchful eye of the Television Licensing Authority - the BBC.

The BBC should and must accept its responsibility, but instead we only hear the sound of hands being washed.

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Chris left an annotation (19 September 2011)

Has this been before the Commissioner yet? If not, why not? 22 months is taking the mickey somewhat.

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
British Broadcasting Corporation only: