THE number of homeowners caught watching their television without a licence in Bromley increased by 14 per cent in 2011.
TV Licensing clamped down on residents breaking the law, detecting 1,213 television-users illegally watching their set, a rise of 149 since the previous year.
The upward trend was replicated in towns across the country.
TV Licensing spokesperson Farimah Darbyshire said: "TV viewing is as popular as ever with the percentage of households with a television set at 97 per cent - it’s our role to make sure everyone is aware of when they need to be covered by a licence.
"On behalf of licence fee payers, we’re committed to tackling evasion and enforcing the law amongst the small minority who should pay but don’t - it’s only fair."
Homeowners caught watching television without a licence are given the opportunity to pay but failure to do so after the first warning can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
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