is this a search warrant

i'm pretty sure it isn't but just to make sure, tv licensing have sent me a letter saying "a visit to your address has been authorised". they've sent me 'warnings' in the past before, i didn't reply to any of them and now they've told me if i do nothing they will "proceed with our investigation of your accommodation as scheduled".

Reply 1

hypocriticaljap

2

they cannot enter without a police officer in attendance.

Reply 2

marcusmerehay

17

You do not have to let them into your house unless they have explicit police authority. End of story.

Reply 3

porch monkey 4 life

OP

cool story bro, i won't be replying to this one either. going in the bin with all the kebab shop menus.

Reply 4

NW86

12

Why throw away kebab shop menus :frown:

unless you have your favs of course

Reply 5

thetroll

8

This is a begging letter from the BBC, nothing more. Your filing system sounds well up to handling it...

Reply 6

-WhySoSerious?

17

4 porch monkey life

i'm pretty sure it isn't but just to make sure, tv licensing have sent me a letter saying "a visit to your address has been authorised". they've sent me 'warnings' in the past before, i didn't reply to any of them and now they've told me if i do nothing they will "proceed with our investigation of your accommodation as scheduled".

http://www.bbctvlicence.com

You are under no legal obligation to reply to the letters or let a person from TV Licensing into your house.

Reply 7

TheCrackInTime

3

The letter itself isn't a warrant, they have to bring that on the day of the search.

As others have said, they can't enter your property without a police officer in attendance because although they can apply for a search warrant, they have no legal authority to enforce it. If they turn up with a warrant and no police officer, feel free to send them packing.

Reply 8

ChemistBoy

16

It is highly unlikely that they would bother to actually apply for a warrant and request the attendance of a police officer as this costs more than a tv licence!

Reply 9

L i b

19

hypocriticaljap

they cannot enter without a police officer in attendance.

That's not strictly true - a search warrant can be, and generally is, granted without an explicit requirement for a police presence. Still, every TVL search I've heard has been with police constables present, and I can't imagine them attempting to execute one without.

4 porch monkey life

i'm pretty sure it isn't but just to make sure, tv licensing have sent me a letter saying "a visit to your address has been authorised". they've sent me 'warnings' in the past before, i didn't reply to any of them and now they've told me if i do nothing they will "proceed with our investigation of your accommodation as scheduled".

I think they do it on rotation. I know quite a few people, myself included, who have received a very similar letter recently.

Reply 10

Satansicecreamtruck

You don't have to let them in. End of.

Reply 11

ChemistBoy

16

L i b

That's not strictly true - a search warrant can be, and generally is, granted without an explicit requirement for a police presence. Still, every TVL search I've heard has been with police constables present, and I can't imagine them attempting to execute one without.

Absolutely. Debt collection services are also issued with Magistrate's warrants and do not need police presence in order to serve them.

Reply 12

tomfranks7

7

Let them in...then as they enter your hallway, get your housemate to drop a tv set on their heads?

Reply 13

L i b

19

tomfranks7

Let them in...then as they enter your hallway, get your housemate to drop a tv set on their heads?

"Detect that, ya ****".

Reply 14

Potally_Tissed

19

ChemistBoy

It is highly unlikely that they would bother to actually apply for a warrant and request the attendance of a police officer as this costs more than a tv licence!

But probably less than the fine they are hoping they can give you as a result.

Reply 15

ChemistBoy

16

Potally_Tissed

But probably less than the fine they are hoping they can give you as a result.

'Hoping' being an operative word. According to the law they have to prove that you have tv equipment with the purpose of viewing and recording broadcast television. I.e. the have to find evidence that demonstrates intent - not so easy. Hence I should think that the hit rate is so low that it is probably hardly ever worth it.

Reply 16

hypocriticaljap

2

ChemistBoy

Absolutely. Debt collection services are also issued with Magistrate's warrants and do not need police presence in order to serve them.

they have no right of access though.

Reply 17

theronkinator

17

They sent me one even though I told them I don't have one, the letter says a visit has been authorised as you have not contacted us, I have an email from them comfirming I told them.

IGNORE them

hypocriticaljap

they have no right of access though.

Actually not strictly true. Most baliffs have the right of peaceful entry even if that is not consensual. Baliffs acting for HMRC can also have the right to forced entry.
At the end of the day even the police cannot force entry to inspect a property on a search warrant only to arrest someone.

is this a search warrant

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