Newly-released figures show that 210 young people have been caught without a TV licence in Suffolk over the past year.

East Anglian Daily Times: TV Licensing are encouraging young people to buy a licence to avoid occuring a fine of up to £1,000. Picture: TV LICENSINGTV Licensing are encouraging young people to buy a licence to avoid occuring a fine of up to £1,000. Picture: TV LICENSING (Image: TV LICENSING)

Ipswich was the worst area in the region with 75 young people, between the ages of 18 and 25, caught not spending the £150.50 fee to watch TV.

Lowestoft also saw a high number of students caught with 48. In comparison, 43 young people were caught without at TV Licence across the entire county of Oxfordshire in the same period.

The fine for watching TV or BBC iPlayer without a licence can be up to £1,000 and TV Licensing wants to remind the 1,300,000 students under the age of 25 in England to pay the fee to avoid further charges.

Cody Want, spokesperson for TV Licensing London and South East, said: “Every year there are myths which circulate around campus about when you do and don’t need a licence.

“As most students own at least one device capable of showing live TV or watching BBC iPlayer - such as a laptop, smartphone or tablet computer – it’s important they know the law around being correctly licensed.

“If you’re watching live TV on any device, including mobiles and tablets, or watch catch up programmes on BBC iPlayer, you need to be covered by a TV Licence.”

Research published in the summer of 2018 showed that the number of students taking a TV to university had risen from 23% to 27%.

However, for those watching BBC iPlayer, most are using a laptop, with 65% watching on their portable computer and 28% watching on their smartphone.

Students seemed to know when a licence is needed with 92% stating they were aware when they needed one and nearly half of students surveyed believed that TV Licensing were actively looking for students who were evading the charge.

Students can pay for a TV licence online, but also can pay over the phone, by post and also at any Post Office.

The region with the highest number of young people caught without a TV Licence across the South East was Kent with 694.

Hampshire and Essex fell shortly behind with 594 and 541 respectively.