Plans to decriminalise the non-payment of the TV licence fee are being considered by government departments in a move designed to ease pressure on the courts,

Offenders at present face a £1,000 fine and a criminal record, as well as the prospect of jail if fines are not paid. More than 180,000 people appeared in court last year after being accused of not paying the £145.50 fee – accounting for over one in 10 of all criminal prosecutions. Of those, 155,000 were convicted and fined.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who is spearheading Commons efforts to change the law, said for some cash-strapped families the current law was "criminalising them for being poor".

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/08/tv-licence-fee-decriminalise-miller-bbc

Of course if you do not watch or record Live tv you don't need a licence