BBC licence fee enforcement officer knocked me down with his car before fleeing – I’m in agony and shock
POLICE are investigating claims a BBC licence fee enforcement officer knocked down a disabled woman with his car before fleeing the scene.
Amanda White, 50, who stopped paying the £169.50 charge in October, says she was left lying injured in the road.
She claimed the enforcement officer turned up at her home with a letter threatening court action if she watched or streamed TV.
Amanda, who uses a mobility scooter and suffers from arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said: “He was very aggressive. I refused to accept the letter but he chucked it through my door as I was closing it. He then wouldn’t take it back, so I tossed it outside. He had the cheek to push it through my letterbox, so as he got in his car I walked up to his window to give it back to him.
“I had my hand on his vehicle and he just accelerated, pulling me to the ground. He paused for a second up the road, clearly saw I was injured on the floor, and drove off. It’s disgusting.”
Amanda, who lives alone in Chorley, Lancs, says she is still in “agony and shock” after the incident last Friday.
She added: “I’ve hardly slept or eaten. I landed really hard on the road and injured my wrist. I’m still in a lot of pain and can’t stop trembling.”
It comes amid declining numbers of licence fee payers, with growing criticism of BBC tactics.
Last week the BBC apologised for letters threatening to knock on non-payers’ doors on Christmas Day.
Amanda went on: “I can’t afford to keep paying it and I no longer want to watch the BBC, it’s as simple as that.”
Dennis Reed, director of campaign group Silver Voices, said: “Some of these enforcers act as if they are bailiffs, using lawful powers, when they are nothing more than cheap salesmen. We have long called for an independent inquiry into the threatening tactics used by TV Licensing.”
Amanda reported the matter to police and the BBC.
Lancashire Police said inquiries are ongoing.
A TV Licensing spokesman said it was also investigating, adding: “We expect the highest standards from those working for us and take any allegations extremely seriously.”