Petition · past parliament
Decriminalisation of non-payment of the BBC license fee.
Closed
33 signatures
What the petition asks
In 2015, the former justice secretary said the crime should be downgraded to a civil offence due to the huge strain placed on the courts by license fee cases.
BBC bosses are desperate to keep it a criminal charge for fear that droves of people will not pay if there is no longer a jail threat.
BBC bosses are desperate to keep it a criminal charge for fear that droves of people will not pay if there is no longer a jail threat.
Timeline
| 11 Jul 2019 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 6 Nov 2019 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
33
Status
Closed
Opened
11 Jul 2019
Closed
6 Nov 2019
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.