"The numbers of prosecutions have fallen significantly in recent years - by around 66% in England and Wales from 128,000 people in 2017/18 to 44,000 in 2021/22. There have been even greater declines in Scotland (79%) and in Northern Ireland (84%).1 Prosecutions of women have also fallen significantly - from 93,000 to 33,000 in England and Wales for instance - broadly in line with the overall declines. These rates of decline are far steeper than the broader decline in the total numbers of criminal prosecutions of women, which fell by 39% over this period.2 Despite these overall declines there remains a gender disparity in those prosecuted for TV Licence evasion. Around 75% of those convicted for TV Licence evasion are women. While the review has found many of the factors that contribute to the disparity are outside the BBC’s control, the BBC remains very concerned about the difference in prosecution numbers between men and women. We are committed to doing more, especially to support those in financial difficulty, and we expect the actions we take as a result of this review will reduce the risk of prosecution."
Julian Pavey ● 70d