# 352 - WAR - Update on my TV licence - Part two.

Following on from post #348, against all expectations to the contrary, I did have a Search Warrant issued on me by TWO TV Licence Inspectors accompanied by TWO Police Officers to ensure I did not cause a breach of the peace!

The four of them were with me for about 40 mins, all very affable and friendly, during which time they established that I had a TV able to receive 'LIVE' broadcasts, filled in a form, left me a copy and then departed. My parting shot to the four was that I had considered going to prison over this issue but had absolutely no desire, as in Shawshank Redemption, of being buggered which made the two Police Officers smile!!

While I am now awaiting a court case in the magistrates court I have, after seeking legal advice, done everything in my power to reduce the potential fine and leave me to carry on my protest in other ways.

My protest was always based on the assumption that I would never have a Search Warrant served on me and would therefore still be able to get away with NOT paying my licence fee and keep my protest, about their bias, rolling on and on!

However after the Search Warrant was served I sought advice and thought about what I would actually achieve by continuing to protest and my conclusion was that I had far more to lose than gain. As a result I decided that a tactical withdrawal, in the face of over whelming superior forces in the form of the BBC and 'Establishment', was the most sensible course of action. So like every good terrorist, when faced with being overpowered, they 'shoot and scoot' to return at a time of their choosing to fight another day.

I actually sought the advice of a criminal lawyer for an hour and the key factors that assisted my decision to tactically withdrawal were :-

1. To get to a Crown court, where political issues can receive a better hearing, I would need to plead not guilty in the Magistrates court but in any event this category of crime would not be heard before a jury but before 'Establishment' judges who would view the issue as a simple non payment of a legal obligation.

2. The amount of time one could reasonably expect in a Crown court would be the absolute maximum of one day which would not really give sufficient time to explore 25 years of bias and prove the point conclusively.

3. My projected cost for pleading guilty in the Magistrates court (which least we forget I am) were around £1000 rising to around £10,000 + in a Crown Court.

4. Any media publicity I was luckily enough to receive would be short lived and soon forgotten.

On this basis, and with the single aim of reducing my fine to the absolute minimum, I bowed to the inevitable and brought a TV licence on-line and wrote to TV licencing to explain my protest was over and asked them to consider not taking me to court.

If TV licencing accept my position I will have saved my self a court appearance and I will give you and update when I next hear from TV licencing or the court as could still be the case.

My monitoring of the BBC's bias of course goes on with also an attempt to develop an active Twitter account under bias_bbc but this is very much work in progress and I don't yet understand exactly how to get the best out of Twitter - if anyone actually does!!!???

I will of course let you know the final outcome.