A minister has warned that the BBC licence fee is “unsustainable” and could become a Post Office-like scandal.
In a newsletter to his constituents, science minister Andrew Griffith, made comments about the national broadcaster.
He said that the BBC should be stripped of the power to bring prosecutions for not paying the licence fee, saying they are carried out “behind closed doors”.
Mr Griffith added that the current funding model cannot continue. TV licences are due to go up by £10.50 in April to £169.50 a year.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced in December that there will be a review into how the BBC could increase its commercial revenue to reduce the “burden” on households.
She also ordered a rethink on the broadcaster’s prosecuting powers, saying it should not have “criminal tools in its armoury” to prosecute people for not paying the licence fee.
Nearly 130 people are prosecuted every day for failing to pay the fee, with some handed fines of up to £1,000.
Mr Griffith said in his Arundel & South Downs newsletter: “An average of about 3,400 people every month are prosecuted behind closed doors for not paying the BBC licence fee, according to the most recent Ministry of Justice figures.
“These cases are then prosecuted by the BBC’s own TV licensing arm.
“Last week, Lord MacDonald, a former Director of Public Prosecutions drew comparison to the Horizon scandal and said they should instead be dealt with by the independent Crown Prosecution Service. I do agree.
“The £170 a year BBC licence fee is unsustainable, and I am glad that the government is exploring alternatives.”
