It's not forced. You can very easily not pay the license fee. I don't, and haven't for ~18 months, with the full knowledge of the TV License authority. You just have to follow a simple rule of not watching or listening to live TV or radio broadcasts.

My understanding is that while people may go to jail in relation with the BBC license, they go to jail for not paying the fine, not as a result of not having purchased the license. Now, you may disagree with the fact that people face imprisonment over a fine, but that's a different matter.

"People have gone to jail" - How many?

"In recent years at least 70 people have been jailed for non-payment of fines associated with TV licensing offences."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/10256679/T...

Sentences like, "fines associated with TV licensing offences," set alarm bells ringing in my head.

Why?

Sounds like something a politician would say when they're trying to trick you into believing something other than what they are saying.

"Women make up about 70% of those prosecuted and convicted, and half of those jailed for not paying the fine. When people fail to pay other utilities, such as energy companies, they are guilty of a civil offence, not a criminal one, and they cannot be prosecuted and fined for falling behind with their payments. Civil action can be taken for recovery, but without fines and jail terms."

http://freedomsfloodgates.com/2015/03/20/non-payment-of-bbc-...

"I can't afford to pay the licence" gets you a criminal conviction.

"I can't afford to pay the fines from that conviction" gets you jail time.

The disproportion in genders is possibly to do with difference in response when challenged by TVLA.

I quite like the idea of the licence fee but there are some really troubling aspects to it.