New "invisible" TV detector vans hit streets

**4me2** · 27th June 2003

A new generation of "invisible" television detector vans has been deployed this week.

The new model, the 10th in almost 50 years, are the first to be designed with removable TV Licensing branding, so they look like "any other white van" on the streets.

"These new vans really are a case of 'now you see it, now you don't'," explained Vanessa Wood, TV Licensing spokeswoman. "Because we are able to remove the TV Licensing logo, licence evaders won't know we're in the area unless we want them to.

"50 years ago you could spot the first TV detector vans coming a mile off as the aerial on top was as wide as the van. This is the first time we have used covert vans and they will be only one part of our activities to target licence evaders."

Last year 440,000 licence evaders were caught. The organisation hopes that the new technology will help catch even more.

"The new vans are so powerful they can tell if a TV is in use in as little as 20 seconds. And once the television is detected, the equipment - which works from up to 60 metres away - can pinpoint the actual room that the television set is in," Wood added.

"However, the technology is so secret that even the engineers working on different detection systems worked in isolation � not even they know how the other detection methods work."

Anyone caught without a licence faces a fine of up to �1,000.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds11279.html

**Freaky** · 27th June 2003

i bet this ones got a lot of people scurrying to get a license, jesus can even tell wot room the tele is in aswell

**GETanner** · 27th June 2003

His method's and manner may seem a bit "odd", but http://licencefee.com/ is worth a read.

Also have a look at his rants and efforts at http://logofreetv.org/

G

**BuLLd0g** · 27th June 2003

Originally posted by 4me2

"However, the technology is so secret that even the engineers working on different detection systems worked in isolation � not even they know how the other detection methods work."
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds11279.html

lol, the shit they come out with just to scare the public.
its seems there still having problems detecting non payers if there trying different detection systems 50 years after the first detection van was introduced.

im glad i was never caught at uni this year - �100 is a complete con especially when the majority of people are just using their tv for consoles. �1000 fine puts the shits in you but ive known people who got caught and just had to pay for the license.

stories of panicking friends jumping out of their windows and stashing tvs in wardrobes when the licensing bloke paid a visit still make me laugh tho

**diond1** · 27th June 2003

Yep, if you don't answer the door, then there's not a lot they can do..........................................
Is there??

**Detector** · 27th June 2003

its not worth the hassle anymore, just pay the license and sit back and relax, your not having to keep curtains shut then

**cosmicma** · 27th June 2003

i think the more publicity they give about tv detector vans the better for them i thought the whole idea of the scheme was to make the vans as visible as possible to scare you into buying a license after all they don't need a van they allready know who has a license and you can safely presume nowadays tha 99% of households have a tv

just another publicity stunt to frighten people into paying up i suppose....

**wonkyfox** · 27th June 2003

I find a simple "F**k off" thru the letter box works for me!!!!
LOL

**procode** · 28th June 2003

It don't scare me M8s, anyway, I've just got to rush out to the shops s s s s s s s s s s s s s s ............................

**Morph** · 28th June 2003

All the same, I would prefer to tell them to stick BBC channels up their arses and I will watch sky without it. I rarely see anything on there I want to watch, and NEVER listen to radio other than local stations. You should have the choice, I thought this was a democracy ?!?!

W4NKERS!

**Mr.James** · 29th June 2003

One of my mates had a knock at the door and it was a bloke asking if he could have a natter about the previous tennant. When he opened the door he said that he was actually a license inspector and he's been forced to cough up now.

One of my other mates has kept them at bay for years saying that he's "house sitting" and to come back later.

**Freaky** · 29th June 2003

sneaky *******s
reminds me of a m8 who had a registered letter so he had to sign for it, turned out it was a debt collector whod been stalkin him for money for ages and he kept blanking them.

**Kookai** · 29th June 2003

TV detector fans are a load of old bull, I haven�t had a license ever 10years plus now and I�m never getting one on principle. Its stupid a license for a TV ???? its not a gun it�s a TV, its daft. Try telling some one in the USA that we have to have a license for a TV and they think it�s the craziest thing ever.

They call it a license but its really a forced BBC Subscription.

Sign this petition to help get rid of it.

http://www.tvlicensing.biz/