THE BBC are plotting to unleash a new method to crack down on TV licence fee dodgers. As it stands, a TV licence is required for anyone who watches or records live TV on any channel or uses BBC

The BBC is plotting to use iPlayer to target licence fee dodgers, The Telegraph understands. Up to 40 million online accounts are set to be linked with the TV licence status of their residential address for the first time in an effort to crack down on households that access the streaming service without a licence.

The BBC is working on ways to use iPlayer to find households that haven't paid for a TV licence, the Money blog understands.

In order to watch programmes on live TV or BBC iPlayer, households need to pay a £174.50 annual fee.

The broadcaster will offer two live streams of action from Italy, with Clare Balding, Hazel Irvine and Jeanette Kwakye leading TV coverage

It currently costs £174.50 a year for a TV licence and you need one to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel

It’s thought the BBC plans to identify TV licence fee dodgers by linking home addresses with online accounts.