This is an extraordinary tale of harassment by the authorities. What has become of GREAT Britain?

I’ve been catching up with some of your other blogposts like the TV cameras on the road one. How have we allowed so many of our hard-fought freedoms to be eroded thus?

I was a boy cub too, and I carried a knife in a sheath when I went to the meetings. As did the other cubs. No one stabbed each other!

I think there are still a majority of good, decent people in Britain but our soft, liberal stance on immigrants, other religions and criminals etc has come back to haunt us.

I can’t believe it myself sometimes, after all these years I just can’t make the TV Licensing t**ts understand that I don’ t possess a television! I think they can’t get their heads around the fact that there a some people in Britanistan who don’t watch the telly. – Keith.

Oh dear! Don’t they have anything better to do? Love that you took his photo. Yes, he looks quite surprised. I do agree that there is nothing worth watching on tv. We only watch news and sports these day…but certainly pay a hefty bill to be able to do it.

I think you are right there Betsy. Like the police they don’t have anything better to do. The police have stopped me twice this year just to check the car and test me to see if I’m over the alcohol limit and the car complies with the MOT requirements. Both times they were disappointed on both counts. The TV people are the same, for twelve years they have bothered me, but I cant do anything about it except buy a TV Licence (£146 per annum). – Keith.

So they are still after you?

Yes Anji, I must be one of the top people they harass now, and no matter what I say they will hound me for the rest of my days. Still, it’s entertaining and much better than watching the TV. They are pathetic and a constant source of amusement to me. It gives a purpose to my life in my twilight years just to annoy them. – Keith.

Your post made me chuckle! Love the photo too.

Hi, pleased to meet you at last. I love your blog, it brings back memories for me. If you run into Wendy (Ascham) give her my love. [She is usually in the Wykeham Arms at lunchtimes]. – Keith.

Keith you did of course ask his permission to take his photo? Of course you did:)

At the moment you can photograph anything in the public domain i.e., the street, parks etc. That means places and people, included the police at the moment, but that is about to change if Parliament decide. You cannot take pictures in a seemingly public place, i.e., shopping malls, private shops, supermarkets etc., without the permission of the manager or a person in charge. It is usual to blur out faces and number plates to protect the innocent. You cannot take pictures of young children anywhere unless a parent or the person responsible for them gives their permission.
But if a person who is not welcome comes onto my property they automatically become an intruder, and as such they cannot object to anything I do, like taking a picture.
Yes I did ask permission of the owner of the property. I said to myself “Can I take a photo of him?”. To which I replied “Most certainly!” – Keith.

You have to have a license to watch TV? In other words, you have to pay to be brain-washed? Over here, it’s the taking of a picture of, say, a tram or a water tower, that will earn you the frowning attention of The Law.

I thought you had to have a TV license if you were conected to the internet as you can watch tv through the computer, well you learn something new every day.

You are right Helen, but I don’t watch LIVE TV on t’internet, I don’t even WANT to watch TV.
I sometimes watch films on the iPlayer, because you don’t need a licence to view them (not yet, but the Govt are working on that problem as I write) – Keith.

What are they going to do with all those people who will now stop pestering you after this post? Look at all the people who will now need employment, Keith haha.

I know what I would like to do with them, but that’s naughty; and illegal. – Keith.

Useless bureaucracy – especially their top, overly tax payer funded, management – overall it will have cost their organisation well over 1,000.00 quid in admin work just to get to this point.

“They” can’t recognise the complete lack of a BBC television receiving device? I’m astounded that you are still facing these hassles after 12 tv free years.

Sending care and huggles (with Zebby Cat *LOUD puRRRRRumbling as well),

Michelle

*loud purring is his greatest skill – hopeless at hunting, climbing trees, defence against other felines, but, my goodness Zebby can pURRr. Not so good for His human when I’m trying to hear a good radio programme be it documentary, play, book reading, interview or a good music performance on radio – bless my rescue feline lad for his enthusiastic show of loud affectionate appreciation! Now, any suggestions for how to painlessly fit a cat with a purr-box volume control?

sending care,plus some more – Michelle

I should have mentioned that in the TV Licensing Twerps letter they stated that I will have to prove that I don’t watch TV (?). How stupid. What do I have to do? Point to an empty space in my lounge and say “That’s where the TV set would be if I had one, and that’s where I don’t watch TV”. Do you think they will leave me alone after that, or would they lock me away in an institution as being a danger to the public? – Keith.

Keith, first time visitor to your blog and fellow Shiltonian. Stumbled across while trying to find out what the unseemly police brouhaha today was. You’ve already made me smile and laugh out loud you grumpy old curmudgeon. When I grow up I want to be just like you!!