TV Licensing Calls For Attacks To End on Staff

Attacks on TV Licensing enquiry officers have more than doubled in the last year.

In total, 360 enquiry officers faced physical and verbal assaults in the last financial year, including attacks reported in Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy.

Many officers have had death threats made to them after knocking on doors, while others have been punched and spat at, had TVs thrown at them and also been filmed whilst being abused, with clips posted on YouTube.

As part of Anti-Bullying Month, TV Licensing is launching a campaign to tackle the increasing problem of verbal and physical attacks on its enquiry officers who visit unlicensed properties. 

In other cases in Scotland, one officer was told to ‘**** off’ while another had a hammer waved at their head. In another shocking incident recently, an occupier stepped out his door and gestured to punch an officer, before verbally abusing them.

TV Licensing says some of its officers have had to have counselling following attacks. Explaining the effect abuse can have on them, one Scottish officer said: “A normal day at the office is turning up, having a happy day and going home. But an incident, although rare, when it happens can ruin not only your week, but your month. I’ve faced verbal abuse, been filmed, pushed, followed on foot for several hundred yards – shouting abuse in a packed street. I’ve been followed and chased in a car for several miles.”

Colin Jones, TV Licensing Field Operations Director, said:

"The threats our officers can receive when they are just trying to carry out their role is completely unacceptable. Those who attack them seem to forget they are human beings.

They do a great job, remaining professional and courteous in sometimes very challenging circumstances and we do everything we can to support them. This includes reporting serious threats and abuse to the police."

A number of organisations in Scotland are supporting the campaign, including Police Scotland, the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) and the Scottish Taxi Federation, which is the representative body of the taxi trade in Scotland.

Superintendent Brian Hughes from Police Scotland's Licensing & Violence Reduction Division said: "We support and endorse this campaign. Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and everybody should be able to do their job safely and without fear of violence. To report a crime please call 101 or in an emergency use 999."