Pub boss pays price for TV licence offence

AN Oldham pub boss who was caught without a TV licence has been ordered to pay £684 by a court.

Gareth Rees, owner of The Junction Inn on Ripponden Road, Oldham, was fined £440 for using a TV without a licence on the business premises.

He was also ordered to pay £200 costs and a £44 victim surcharge at a hearing in his absence at Wigan Magistrates' Court.

Businesses are being encouraged to ensure they have a valid licence to show television programmes as they are broadcast , whether in customer or staff areas.

If there is living accommodation on the premises where a TV is also in use, this must be covered by a separate licence.

Those without a valid licence are breaking the law and run the risk of a court prosecution and fine of up to £1,000 per offence, plus costs.

A survey of more than 250 managers at UK businesses, conducted with the British Chambers of Commerce on behalf of TV Licensing, showed that where a business needs to make cutbacks, just 14 per cent would consider not paying for a TV licence where one was needed.

Negative

The survey also showed that, of those asked what would motivate them to ensure they were correctly licensed, 98 per cent answered the potential reputational damage from negative press coverage of a prosecution for TV licence evasion.

Matthew Thompson, TV Licensing spokesperson for the North, said: "We appreciate these are tough times for businesses but, to be fair to the majority who do pay the licence fee, we have to take action against those who watch TV illegally.

"As our survey shows, those businesses who do try to get away with it might find the price of being caught to be higher than just a fine.

"We'd rather businesses think ahead and check if they need a licence than risk being prosecuted."

Last year TV Licensing officers visited more than 30,000 businesses across the UK, ranging from takeaway restaurants and holiday parks to garages, hair salons and sports clubs, to confirm if they were correctly licensed.

A licence costs £145.50 and can be bought online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/businessinfo