HOW low can the TV licensing authority sink in their pursuit of people not paying their licence fee? (Evening Press, July 7).

To name and shame a street is in effect slandering the whole population of that street and area, including York as tourists will notice: an absolute disgrace.

Anyone giving their address in one of these streets when applying for a job may be disadvantaged, whether or not they have paid for a TV licence. People selling their homes may find it more difficult.

Labour has acted to introduce an arbitrary policy of allowing the over 75-year-olds a free licence. A better policy may be to add the licence fee to the council tax.

This would put the licence fee in a similar position to funding libraries; both providing a public service, funded from the rates, with people who qualify for any deductions being allowed concessions. Single students living in bed-sits, single pensioners and the unemployed would not have to pay the full fee.

Probably more than £100 million a year would be saved by not issuing separate licences and by not using up the court's time and resources, often prosecuting some of the most disadvantaged people in our society.

Colin Clarke,

The Crescent,

Stamford Bridge, York.