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Last Updated: Tuesday, 1 February, 2005, 21:01 GMT
TV licence cheat number 'doubles'
TV Licensing vehicle
The TV Licensing Authority is based in Bristol
The Bristol-based TV Licensing Authority says 4,000 people were caught watching sets illegally in the city last year - twice as many as in 2003.

The city has been named as the worst place in the south west for licence evaders, with Swindon and Gloucester also in the top four.

Each person found avoiding the £121 fee faces prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000, said a spokesman.

The authority's 20m address database shows all unlicensed properties.

Sara Powell, of the authority, said: "We always prefer people to pay for a TV licence rather than be prosecuted so we are urging all evaders to buy a licence before they are caught."




SEE ALSO:
Off road fight on licence dodgers
11 Sep 04 |  Mid Wales
Footballer fined over TV licence
16 Sep 03 |  Tyne
Licence fee 'league of shame'
07 Feb 03 |  Northern Ireland
BBC 'must combat £200m licence fraud'
18 Dec 02 |  UK Politics
TV licence dodgers cost BBC £141m
15 May 02 |  TV and Radio


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