BBC to tackle high proportion of women prosecuted for licence fee evasion

Measures include ability to spread cost over small instalments and free debt advice

The BBC has set out plans to reduce the high proportion of women being prosecuted for licence fee evasion following suggestions that the charge is sexist.

The measures including free debt advice and allowing all unlicensed households to spread payments, underlining the BBC’s determination to save the licence fee, which was frozen by the government at £159 until 2024.