A NEW league of shame which exposes the worst areas for licence evasion shows the Lancaster postcode district to be one of the highest payment evasion areas in the country. Now local officers are setting up a crackdown on evasion in the area. The table, published this week, shows that a staggering 580 evaders were caught in the Lancaster area during the first financial quarter of this year.

Enquiry officers will be armed with detection equipment including cans and hand-held scanners which can tell what TV programme is being watched as well as where the television set is in the house. To double check that TV owners are not cheating the system the enquiry officers can call upon their database in seconds to see whether residents own a valid licence.

"Appearing in the league of shame is something Lancaster and Morecambe should not be proud of," commented Mick Hill, director of TV Licensing.

"Evasion is a serious business and is not fair on customers in the area who own a valid licence.

"Although the statistics indicate that evaders are being caught and that our detection methods are working, we would much prefer people to simply purchase a licence. Consequently my advice to people in the Lancaster area is go and buy a licence now before they face a visit to their local magistrates court and a hefty fine."

Preston has a worse record on evasion than Lancaster and Morecambe with 605 evaders.

Call TV Licensing on 0990 763 763 for advice of payment.

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