Beeb blows £6million of taxpayer cash on threatening TV licence letters

THE BBC has spent more than £6million in taxpayers’ cash in the last year on ­letters threatening to fine non licence-fee payers.

It sent almost 28.6million letters, costing 22p each, to unlicensed homes warning of £1,000 fines if the £147 charges goes unpaid.

The number is 2.7million more than in 2014, despite a pledge to minimise paper communications.

Homes get several letters before further action yet last year only 184,595 were issued with a non-payment notice by enforcement teams.

Of those who ended in court yet failed to pay their fine, 90 were jailed, say Freedom of Information figures.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said of the Beeb’s spending blitz against non licence-fee payers: “It’s taxpayers’ money chasing taxpayers’ money.”

Chloe Westley, of The TaxPayers’ Alliance, added: “It’s a ridiculous waste.

“The fact magistrates dismiss so many cases shows people are being taken to court without thorough checks being put in place.”

A TV Licensing spokeswoman said collection costs had fallen by 25 per cent since 2010/11 to just under 3p for every £1 collected.

She added: “TV Licensing does not have email addresses for the majority of unlicensed addresses and it is far more cost effective to send a letter than to visit the addresses.”

• BBC1 and BBC2 must show original content in 90 per cent of peak evening hours, ­regulator Ofcom has ruled.