Criminals 'treat fines as voluntary'

In the last year, 40% of fines - some £148m - were left unpaid, says a new report from the Commons public accounts committee.

The MPs' report calls for new measures allowing bailiffs to seize property belonging to criminals who repeatedly refuse to pay fines.

Best and worst performers
Dorset 89% paid
W Yorkshire: 86%
Cambridgeshire: 36%
Merseyside 34%
All courts average: 59%

There are huge differences between areas too, with only one in every three people fined in Merseyside paying up, compared to nine out of 10 in Dorset.

Unpaid fines are written off usually because offenders have gone missing, successfully appealed or changed circumstances.

Committee chairman Edward Leigh said the current system was failing "both the taxpayer and the victims of crime".

"It is simply unacceptable that the payment of a fine has become almost a voluntary activity," he said.

"Fines should deter offenders - but a haphazard approach to their collection is far from a deterrent and must be addressed as a matter of urgency."

The report urges the Lord Chancellor's department to consider centralising collection procedures and combining the separate systems for enforcing criminal and civil penalties.

Norman Draper, justices clerk for Merseyside, told BBC News the area had suffered from a recruiting shortage of legal advisors and a low level of motoring fines, which are easy to collect.

He said new measures to address the problem include centralising cash collection, more courts to deal with fine defaulters and new bailiff contracts to enforce the seizure of property.

He added: "I don't think we can blame the people of Merseyside totally for this.

"Like in any other area, they don't want to pay fines.

"They pay if they're convinced we will pursue them and over the next few months, we will do exactly that."

The report's findings come as the government plans to use more on-the-spot fines to combat anti-social behaviour without lengthy court proceedings.

Reimbursing victims

The committee of MPs say urgent improvements are needed not just to satisfy taxpayers but also victims of crime, who are only compensated when fines are actually paid.

The report suggests introducing a fund from which the victim of a crime could be paid immediately, and which would then be reimbursed by the offender.

Courts Minister Yvette Cooper welcomed the plan for late payment penalties.

"We intend to introduce these new powers and pilot their effect," she added.

"But it is important that at the same time the courts get more information about offenders means, so they can set appropriate penalties in the first place, and that those who genuinely can't pay get proper advice and support."