This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Information about TV Licensing's court training sessions'.




 
 
Mr Hillas 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
 
 
4 August 2010 
 
 
Dear Mr Hillas, 
 
Request for Information – RFI20100933 
 
Thank you for your email of 7 July 2010 requesting information under the terms of the Freedom of 
Information Act 2000 (“the Act”).   
 
Before I respond to your queries, it may be helpful if I first explain the nature of the relationship between 
TV Licensing and the BBC.  Please note that “TV Licensing” is a trade mark used by companies contracted 
by the BBC to administer the collection of television licence fees and enforcement of the television 
licensing system. The majority of the administration of TV Licensing is contracted to Capita Business 
Services Ltd (which undertakes the majority of the administration of the TV Licensing system), with the 
administration of our cash related payment schemes contracted to iQor UK Limited. PayPoint Network 
Ltd and PayPoint Collections Ltd are contracted to provide over-the-counter services. Marketing and 
printing services are contracted to Proximity London Ltd as are public relations and advertising services.  
The latter are subcontracted by Proximity to Fishburn  Hedges  Boys  Wil iams  Ltd,  Abbott  Mead  Vickers 
BBDO Ltd and PHD Media Ltd.  The BBC is a public authority in respect of its television licensing functions 
and retains overall responsibility. 
 
Your query was as follows:   
 
“According to a magazine published by TV licensing cal ed "In Brief", mailed to members of the Magistrates 
Association, BBC TV Licensing offer "Court training sessions" to magistrates who hear prosecution cases brought 
by TV Licensing.  This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act for full publication of all the course 
materials used in these "Court training sessions" offered by PR companies under contract to BBC TV Licensing.” 

 
Please find attached a copy of the TV Licensing court training document.  The same document is used for 
all TV Licensing court training sessions with several pages of tailored information for each court. 
 
 

Please note that certain clearly marked sections of the attached document have been withheld under 
sections 31(1)(a),(b),(d) and (g) and (2)(a) of the Act which relate to law enforcement, specifically on the 
grounds that disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime, the 
apprehension or prosecution of offenders, the col ection of the licence fee and the BBC’s ability to 
discharge its public functions in respect of such matters. 
 
I am satisfied in terms of section 2(2) of the Act that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest 
in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  I have provided 
further explanation of my consideration of the public interest test in the section ‘Why information has been 
withheld’ below.  
 
Why information has been withheld 
 
I am required under section 2(2) of the Act to assess whether the public interest in maintaining the 
exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 
 
There is a public interest in disclosure in order to reassure the public that: 
 
1.  the licensing authority is exercising its functions appropriately and proportionately; and 
 
2.  that public funds are being appropriately applied, that is: 
 
a.  that the TV Licensing system is being efficiently run; and 
 
b.  that value for money is being obtained. 
 
However, I consider that the above public interest factors in favour of disclosure are outweighed by the 
following: 
 
1.  TV Licensing does not prosecute except where it is in the public interest to do so which includes 
having sufficient evidence.  This is a key principle of the Crown Prosecution Guidelines which we 
publicly state that we adhere to.  Further, a magistrate would not allow a prosecution to take place 
if there was not sufficient evidence and public interest. 
 
2.  The BBC is required to satisfy the National Audit Office ('NAO') as to the value for money of the 
collection and enforcement arrangements and is accountable for the economy, efficiency and 
effectiveness of such arrangements. 
 
3.  The BBC has reduced the cost of collection from 6.2% of the total licence fee collected in 1991/2, 
when it took over from the Home Office, to 3.5% for the financial year 09/10.  This demonstrates 
that the TV Licensing system is being efficiently run.  This and further related information is 
available in the BBC’s annual report (see www.bbc.co.uk) and the TV Licensing Annual Review (see 
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/aboutus/annualreview.jsp).  A key part of this success has been the use 
of detection as a significant deterrent element. 
 
 

Revealing additional information about TV Licensing prosecutions will provide information that could be of 
use to people who wish to avoid paying the television licence fee.  
 
I am therefore satisfied, in terms of section 2 of the Act, that in all the circumstances of the case, the public 
interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest (outlined above) in disclosing the 
information. 
 
Your appeal rights 
 
This enquiry has been dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, as indicated above.  If 
you are not satisfied that we have complied with the Act in responding to your request, you have the right 
to an internal review by a BBC senior manager or legal adviser.  Please contact us at the address above 
explaining what you would like us to review and including the reference number given at the start of this 
letter.  If you are not satisfied with the internal review, you may appeal to the Information Commissioner, 
whose contact details are as follows:  Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, 
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF; telephone: 01625 545700; www.ico.gov.uk
 
I hope this response is helpful. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
Dan McGregor 
Senior Policy Adviser, TV Licensing Management Team