The backs of the vans are empty, and are sometimes parked in prominent places with a lot of passing pedestrian or vehicle traffic, e.g. supermarket car parks, as a reminder/scare-tactic for people to buy a licence, in locations where TV licence evasion is suspected.
This is how TV detection works:
1. TV Licencing (actually the BBC, see below) maintain a database of every address in the UK, compiled from various sources.
2. The vast majority of addresses are covered by a TV licence, because, seriously, who hasn't got a TV.
3. The remaining addresses without a licence may be randomly select for investigation ('detection'), and an investigator sent to the address in a 'detector van' (just used for transport), or may be selected on the basis of 'intelligence', i.e. snitching neighbours, disgruntled employees, etc.
4. If the address doesn't qualify for a TV licence, e.g. non-permanent resident of a static caravan or other extenuating circumstances, then the address details are amended as such in the database.
5. If the address would normally qualify for a licence, then the 'detector' (human investigator) will see if there is evidence of watching TV, and may knock on the door to talk to the occupants.
6. At this point, TV Licencing can, if satisfied, mark the address as (temporarily) not requiring a TV licence, or pursue further action, e.g. legal action. Periodically, the address will be sent letters reminding them that they don't have a licence, and should probably get one, regardless.
No 'electronic detection' equipment is used, other than laptops and PDA-type devices that have access to the address database, or portions of it. These are the rumoured 'handheld detectors'.
That's it. All the detection equipment rumours are just that: scare-mongering tactics by the BBC.
"TV Licencing" itself is maintained as a brand distinct from the BBC to avoid tarnishing the image of the BBC's main brand with such rumours of snooping, scare-tactics, etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if the BBC itself has not actually used any RIPA powers, but is just spreading the rumour that it has done so. Hence the vagueness of the report.
UK Retailers of equipment capable of receiving a TV signal are (or at least were, back in the early '80s) obliged to take the name and address of anyone purchasing one, these details are / were regularly submitted to TV licensing authorities.
I don't have a TV and I've not had a letter for years. It's hillariuos when people from call centres in India call to sell TV related services. Their script clearly doesn't have that contingency catered for.
Here is a TV Licencing employee admitting as much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg5t4jVBemE
The backs of the vans are empty, and are sometimes parked in prominent places with a lot of passing pedestrian or vehicle traffic, e.g. supermarket car parks, as a reminder/scare-tactic for people to buy a licence, in locations where TV licence evasion is suspected.
This is how TV detection works:
1. TV Licencing (actually the BBC, see below) maintain a database of every address in the UK, compiled from various sources.
2. The vast majority of addresses are covered by a TV licence, because, seriously, who hasn't got a TV.
3. The remaining addresses without a licence may be randomly select for investigation ('detection'), and an investigator sent to the address in a 'detector van' (just used for transport), or may be selected on the basis of 'intelligence', i.e. snitching neighbours, disgruntled employees, etc.
4. If the address doesn't qualify for a TV licence, e.g. non-permanent resident of a static caravan or other extenuating circumstances, then the address details are amended as such in the database.
5. If the address would normally qualify for a licence, then the 'detector' (human investigator) will see if there is evidence of watching TV, and may knock on the door to talk to the occupants.
6. At this point, TV Licencing can, if satisfied, mark the address as (temporarily) not requiring a TV licence, or pursue further action, e.g. legal action. Periodically, the address will be sent letters reminding them that they don't have a licence, and should probably get one, regardless.
No 'electronic detection' equipment is used, other than laptops and PDA-type devices that have access to the address database, or portions of it. These are the rumoured 'handheld detectors'.
That's it. All the detection equipment rumours are just that: scare-mongering tactics by the BBC.
"TV Licencing" itself is maintained as a brand distinct from the BBC to avoid tarnishing the image of the BBC's main brand with such rumours of snooping, scare-tactics, etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if the BBC itself has not actually used any RIPA powers, but is just spreading the rumour that it has done so. Hence the vagueness of the report.