BBC faces backlash after households receive letters with 'terrifying' Christmas Day threats

BBC bosses have been criticised for sending out letters that threaten to send Enforcement Officers to check for TV licences on Christmas Day.

In recent weeks, thousands of households have reportedly received the letters, asking 'Will you be in on 25th December?' The letters warn about an expected visit from an enforcement official on Christmas Day when families gather to celebrate.

Josh Daniel, 26, was stunned to receive one such letter, and said he ‘felt shocked’ and described it as ‘threatening.'

"The elderly or vulnerable people receive these letters, they must be terrified receiving that," Josh said.

The Leeds local, despite not owning a TV and therefore being exempt from the £169.50 licence fee, added: “I saw the signature has been printed out and they send out thousands of these, but if you didn’t realise that you’d probably be quite terrified they’re going to come to your house on Christmas Day and fine you."

Those who are caught watching a TV without a licence can be fined up to £1,000 plus a victim surcharge of 40% and prosecution costs of £120.

Josh, who has since binned the letter, said he would be shocked if licensing officers were to turn up as he celebrated with his family.

He added: “I would just think it’s unbelievable, I think it’s completely inappropriate really to be doing that on Christmas Day, and I’d be shocked if they turned up and I’d be really, really annoyed.

“I just find it really awful. The thing I really care about is that it’s going out to the elderly and the vulnerable, there’s a lot of people who might be really shocked by this.

“It might have a bad effect on their mental health over the Christmas period, and I think it’s really shameful what they’re doing, it’s these people who I think