TV Licensing officials

[Carol Anne]

Does anyone know for sure what the rights of these people are to enter your home with a warrant. Can they break down the door and enter, whether or not you are at home? Baillifs cannot do this if they have not previously been in the property. I have heard that these people rights way and above Baillifs in this respect?
A definate answer (if anyone knows it), rather than speculation would be extremly helpful here. Thank-you

[mccfluff]

no they can't come into your home unless you invite them in. This is from experience, i was at a friends home when they knocked on his door, they told him that according to their records he did not have a ltv license and they wanted to come in and check if he had a tv, he refused to let them and although they tried to bully him into it he stood his ground and they eventually went away.

[Kathyan]

You will get loads of information on this site

http://www.tvlicensing.biz/

[Ethel]

This leaflet states they can only come into your home IF they have a warrant.

http://www.tvlicensing.biz/leaflets/pdf/tv_lic ence_guide.pdf

Lots of useful advice on there. Also found this:

V licence inspectors: as a last resort, they can get a warrant giving them the power to enter and search your home, if they reasonably suspect that you own a TV and have not got a licence, or have a black and white licence for a colour TV. The warrant lasts for a month and allows the TV licence inspectors to enter at a reasonable time. However, they are not allowed to use force to get in

[Carol Anne]

Thanks folks. It was the use of force bit that concerned me.

[Bedsit-Bob]

Ethel says "The warrant lasts for a month"

And can only be used for one search.