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Initials PC/BBC/WH/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BRITAIN'S POSTMASTER-GENERAL HAS DECIDED NOT TO INCREASE THE COUNTRY'S RADIO AND TELEVISION LICENCE FEES AT THE MOMENT.MR BEVINS SAID THIS IN LONDON TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AFTER INSPECTING NINE NEW DETECTOR VANS: ONE OF THE WAYS HIS DEPARTMENT CAN GET MORE OF THE MONEY IT'S ALREADY ENTITLED TO - FROM PEOPLE OPERATING A SET WITHOUT A LICENCE.

THE VANS, READY TO START WORK WITH THE POST OFFICE, EACH CARRY GBP1,000 WORTH OF EQUIPMENT, MORE POWERFUL AND SENSITIVE THAN IN PRESENT VANS.FROM FORTY YARDS IT CAN PINPOINT A T.V.OR RADIO SET TO WITHIN A FEW FEET, AND EVEN TELL WHICH PROGRAMME IT'S ON.

AS THE VANS LEFT TO START OPERATING FROM BASES THROUGHOUT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, A POST OFFICE OFFICIAL SAID THREE WERE MANY PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF NOT HAVING LICENSES - LAST YEAR, 15,000 PEOPLE WERE PROSECUTED FOR THIS OFFENCE.

HE SAID THAT WHEN THE VAN CREW WERE TRAINING IN THE HARLOW AREA RECENTLY, NEARLY THREE-THOUSAND EXTRA LICENCES WERE TAKEN OUT THIS HAD NEARLY PAID FOR THE VANS ALREADY.