In 2015, the Daily Mail shouted indignantly that ‘only 15 people in the whole of Scotland were taken to court over TV licence evasion compared to 173,966 fee evaders in England and 15,383 people in Wales!’
But, in March 2018, Mr T. Wotcher ‘s Freedom of Information request to the BBC asked of the period 2016-2018:
1) How many reports have you submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland and;
2) How many people have been successfully prosecuted for evading a TV Licence in Scotland”
The BBC claimed thatthe number of cases reported was 12,385 and that the number of cases heard that have resulted either in a fiscal fine or a conviction at the Sheriff’s court was 12,263.
But, but, in May 2019, a FoI request to the Scottish Government, seemed to suggest that only 11 had been prosecuted in the courts with only 9 found guilty, out of more than 11 000 reported in the same period.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-201900001045/
For context:
Nobody has ever been prosecuted for downloading movies illegally in the UK – yet. This is probably because the illegal streaming and downloading by end-users is simply too widespread for film copyright owners and organisations representing them to track.
Can I Watch Movies Online for Free or is it Illegal?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
If Boris has his way, then paying for a licence fee will become voluntary, putting the future of the BBC in doubt.
Since Scotland only gets a pittance of its licence fee spent in Scotland, few will mourn its passing (bought out by Fox News, maybe?). Pity the Hootsmon and Herod don’t go with it. Perhaps we would get a REAL paper then.
But watch the whining,’ greetin’-faced Brit Nats however, as they “nash” their teeth at the passing of Agitprop Central.
Merry Christmas to all. Hope Santa’s guid tae ye—you’ll deserve all you get, no doubt!
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Nothing in life is ‘free’! Anything you download for free, you are probably already paying for. Or some of it.
I just want everyone to note that I legally don’t pay the licence fee (yes yes, sanctimonious,,), I just don’t watch tv anymore. In fact I’m dreading going round to my mums tomorrow and getting her 50-zillion inch super high HD glorious technicolor screen spewing out shite for the day, but hey ho it’s got to be done.
Merry Christmas to you John and to all your regular contributors and readers, I hope it’s a peaceful and relaxed festive season for you and yours.
(Ps I liked your ‘fact check Scotland’ version, looked authentic, and it is!)
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