In re-enforcing the message that all outstanding fines will be robustly pursued targeted action has been taken in Glasgow against fines defaulters who have made no payment towards their Fiscal fine or Police anti-social behaviour fixed penalty.

A range of tactics were used to pursue offenders including tracing facilities and out of hours telephone calls.

“We targeted individuals who hadn’t made any payment and have taken tough action against them. Non payment of fines is simply no longer an option and we will continue to step up our action to make sure people understand that message,” says SCS Executive Director Field Services Eric McQueen. “Collection rates have continued to improve year on year since the SCS took on the responsibility for enforcing fines in Scotland. We will pursue all outstanding fines and have robust measures in place to enforce payment. These include arresting wages, freezing bank accounts, deducting benefits and clamping cars.”

Since 2008, more than 400,900 enforcement orders have been granted by the courts and officers have agreed revised terms in almost 130,900 accounts.

In looking to use technology as much as possible, a new automated system for processing benefit deductions has freed up staff time to pursue fine defaulters and nearly a quarter of a million pounds was collected in the last six months through automatic benefit deductions. Meanwhile online facilities now make it possible to pay most fines round the clock. Nearly 7500 online payments were made last month (April) with these payments totalling £1.8 million during the 2011-12 financial year.

Most fines, including parking or police tickets, can be paid on the secure website by completing five easy steps using a debit or credit card.

Only fines which involve the endorsement of a driving licence with penalty points cannot be paid electronically including some police traffic tickets and penalties issued by Safety Camera Partnerships for speeding or running a red light. In these instances offenders can post their licence or take it in person to any Scottish court.

Notes:

• The SCS took over the responsibility for the collection of fiscal penalties in March 2008 from the local authorities.

• Fiscal direct penalties are issued by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), in the form of a conditional offer. The alleged offender may refuse the offer within 28 days in recognition that prosecution will be the next likely stage. Alternatively, the alleged offender can accept the offer by making payment. If the conditional offer is ignored and payment not made, the responsibility for enforcement passes to SCS fines enforcement officers, who will seek an enforcement order from the court.

• Anti-Social Behaviour Fixed Penalty Notices are issued by each police force in Scotland and the money due is collected by the relevant police force if it is paid within 28 days. If the penalty is not paid within 28 days, the amount due is increased by 50 per cent and the penalty is converted to a registered fine with responsibility for collection passing to SCS fines enforcement officers, who will seek an enforcement order from the court. Figures for value and number of Police Fixed Penalty Notices paid therefore include both payments made to the police force and payments made to the SCS.

A copy of the most recent SCS Quarterly Fines Report is available online.