TWO hundred people were caught watching TV without a valid licence in Ely in 2011, TV Licensing officers revealed this week.

That compares with more than 1,650 caught in Peterborough and more than 670 in Cambridge.

There were more than 3,200 people caught watching TV illegally across Cambridgeshire and almost 390,000 across the UK last year.

Nationwide, TV Licensing officers catch more than 1,000 evaders every day.

Mark Whitehouse TV Licensing spokesperson for East Anglia, said: “TV viewing is as popular as ever, with the percentage of households who have a television set at 96.7%, and it’s our role to make sure everyone is aware of when they need to be covered by a licence.

“On behalf of licence fee payers in Ely, we are committed to tackling evasion and enforcing the law amongst the small minority who should pay, but don’t. It’s only fair.”

Mr Whitehouse said that offenders are given every opportunity to pay, but, if they failed to do so, they were liable for prosecution. “The penalty fine for evasion can reach �1,000, plus court costs and a victim surcharge,” he added.

Anyone found guilty is also required to buy a TV Licence at �145.50 and they could face a second prosecution if they continue to avoid payment.

For more information, visit the TV Licensing website – www.tvlicensing.co.uk.