TIME is up for TV licence dodgers in Huddersfield.

Those without a licence were given a warning as new figures revealed 318 dodgers have been caught in the town so far this year.

Deborah Copeland, a spokeswoman for TV Licensing North, said: "These figures are a warning to anyone who thinks they can get away with evading the licence. They can't.

"Our detection methods are highly effective, with vans and inquiry officers on the streets seven days a week, visiting at hours when we know people are watching their favourite programmes."

The latest figures come hot on the heels of the launch of a new fleet of state-of-the-art TV detector vans.

The vans are a major part of TV Licensing's crackdown to ensure that viewers without a licence get caught.

They park outside homes which are shown as being without a licence on the organisation's database of more than 28m UK addresses.

The vans, or officers with hand-held scanners, can detect whether a TV is being used inside.

Miss Copeland added: "It is unfair on the honest majority in Huddersfield who buy a licence that a small minority persist in breaking the law.

"While we always prefer people to buy a licence rather than be prosecuted, we are committed to bringing down the level of evasion."

Anyone who is caught for failing to pay their licence fee risks a court appearance, a fine of up to £1,000 and court costs, as well as the price of a licence.

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