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Decriminalising TV licence fee evasion could close Â鶹ԼÅÄ channels, the corporation's strategy director has warned.

James Purnell said it would increase non-payment and cost the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Â£200m.

The sum is the equivalent of Â鶹ԼÅÄ Four, CÂ鶹ԼÅÄ and CBeebies, which would have to be taken off air, Mr Purnell said at an event to

Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the move should be discussed during talks to renew the Â鶹ԼÅÄ's charter before 2017.

Mr Purnell, who previously held the post in the Labour government, said "it would be a huge risk to do it now".

"The choice would be: either we take those services off or the government would have to have a higher licence fee," he said in reference to Â鶹ԼÅÄ Four - the arts and culture channel - and the Â鶹ԼÅÄ's children's stations.

He argued decriminalisation would inevitably lead to greater non-payment of the TV licence, which would force an increase in the fee.

It is currently £145.50 and has been frozen at that annual amount since 2010. It is needed to watch or record live broadcasts on any device.

In 2012 about 155,000 people were convicted and fined for not paying the licence fee, while there were some 180,000 prosecutions.

Mr Purnell added downgrading licence fee evasion to a civil offence would penalise the poor.

"Either you have a low penalty - in which case the evasion rates would go up and everyone would have to pay a higher licence fee - or a penalty which is higher and more difficult to pay," he said.

The Â鶹ԼÅÄ has previously said "legislation is a matter for the government".

"Just a 1% increase in evasion would lead to the loss of around £35m, the equivalent of around 10 Â鶹ԼÅÄ local radio stations," it added.

The government has floated the idea to ease pressure on the courts system.

But it will not be discussed before charter renewal talks - which determine how the Â鶹ԼÅÄ is funded what it does and how it is managed.

The current Â鶹ԼÅÄ charter runs out in 2016.

Meanwhile, Labour MP John McDonnell has tabled an Early Day Motion in parliament calling on the Â鶹ԼÅÄ to reverse its decision to

The motion stated Â鶹ԼÅÄ Three has been the home of programmes including Gavin and Stacey, and raised fears changes could lead to compulsory redundancies.

It added the Â鶹ԼÅÄ should receive a licence fee increase that tracks inflation when the corporation's charter is renewed next year.