A Fines Report published today (Friday) shows that Scotland’s fines collection rate has continued to rise under the newly independent Scottish Court Service (SCS) with sheriff court fines - either paid in full or on track by instalments - hitting an overwhelming 91 per cent.

Direct enforcement, which includes deductions from benefits or wages, arresting bank accounts and seizing cars, has played a significant role in reaching this figure.

This week, three cars were clamped in the Glasgow area during an overnight operation after the owners each neglected to pay a £90 fine for failing to properly display road tax discs.

The vehicles were all reclaimed the following day when the owners paid the cost of the original fine in addition to the contractor’s clamping fee. One man has agreed to pay a further £520 in other outstanding tax disc fines.

Eric McQueen, SCS Executive Director of Field Service, said: “Since the first Fines Report released last year by the SCS, collection rates have risen steadily. We have very robust enforcement measures and have sent strong messages to offenders that fines will be collected. High profile car seizures are helping to drive that message home to fine defaulters. The range of, and increase in the use of enforcement measures means that people with outstanding fines are recognising more and more that there is nowhere to hide and they could be next.”

In addition to sheriff court fines, the collection of Fiscal fines is also increasing. The SCS took control of these payments in March, 2008, when the collection rate was about 40 per cent. Today’s Fine Report shows that now 72 per cent of the value of such fines imposed in 2008/9 has been paid in full or is on track to be paid by instalments.

To date, 13 high profile car seizures have been carried out across Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Livingston. In Aberdeen a woman mounted up a £290 fine over two years for a combination of offences including sentences for driving without insurance and failing to have a TV licence. Her car was impounded

and may become the first to be sold at auction

in Scotland to pay off her fines.Another fine defaulter was stopped at an English airport and told to pay up before boarding his plane. The 26-year-old had failed to deal with a £100 Fiscal fine for driving a lorry with an incorrect tachograph record in Dumfries. He was detained by transport police and put on a phone to a Dumfries Fines Enforcement Officer. Once he had paid in full using a debit card, a warrant for his arrest was cancelled and he was released to continue his journey.

Other enforcement measures include tracing facilities to identify defaulters quickly by providing information on aliases, employment history, bank accounts and credit cards; using sheriff officers to target persistent defaulters; and working closely with the government to speed up direct benefit deductions.

The SCS changed from a government agency to an independent body in April this year, placing the decision-making process closer to those directly involved in delivering justice.

For more information about fines visit this link.

NOTES:

91% of the value of sheriff court fines (1 April 2006- 31 March 2009) has been paid in full or is on track to be paid by instalments. This is a four per cent rise since the first fines report released last year.

79% of the value of Justice of the Peace court fines (2008 – 2009) has been paid in full or is on track to be paid by instalments.

72% of the value of Fiscal fines imposed in 2008-2009 has been paid in full or is on track to be paid by instalments.

68% of the value of Police Antisocial Behaviour Fixed Penalties imposed in 2008-2009 has been paid.

A copy of the SCS Quarterly Fines Report No 5 is available at this link.