More than half the fines imposed by prosecutors last year have not been paid in full and as a result more than 57,000 warning letters have been sent out. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill provided this information to a tory MSP who said the figures were an "absolute disgrace" and our criminal justice system is in "meltdown."
The statistics given to the MSP show penalties worth £3.7m were imposed by prosecutors last year as an alternative to court action. Of this total, £1.3m had been collected, a further £1.2m was being paid by agreed instalments and the remaining £1.2m was in arrears. No payments at all had been made in the case of 14,741 fines or 41% of the total, while a further 4,769 or 13% were in arrears. More than 3,000 enforcement orders were applied but in only 754 cases were the fines deducted from benefits and there were only 40 earnings arrestments.
I agree with MSP Margaret Mitchell that these figures are a disgrace but it would have been more interesting to have details of previous years for comparison.
The amount of public money spent chasing these unpaid fines must be vast. The cost of sending out 57,000 letters alone is possibly in the region of £100,000, including administration. We have laws which include enforcement orders so why aren't they being used? Fines are regarded by many continual offenders as a joke and it's long past time this matter was brought under control.
Mr MacAskill, do something about it, you have the law of the land on your side. Stop the softly softly approach and bring a halt to this ludicrous waste of public money.
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I'd also be very interested to see exactly what these fines are for? We all know the criminal justice system is in meltdwon - fines are doled out willy-nilly - half the time they're undeserved - the other time a custodial sentence would be more fitting. It's a nightmare. But wasting our money over unnecessary bureaucracy seems the norm. in this day and age.
This only applies to Scotland TP. There's another article just come online in the Scotsman which may interest you, it's about the same subject (I think they borrowed a bit from the Sunday Times).
http://tiny.cc/PthqN
I used to do Social Background Reports for the courts. Most of these fines will have been imposed on "schemies" with no job, no hope, and no future. They don't GAF anymore. Lock them up? They don't care.
"I agree with MSP Margaret Mitchell that these figures are a disgrace but it would have been more interesting to have details of previous years for comparison."
I think the scheme has only been in operation for a year or two, thus there are probably no figures available to make meaningful comparisons, if there are any figures available at all.
However, the figures are hardly surprising given the track record of the criminal justice system in such matters.
Plus ca change.
The fine system is mocked by many. Time we changed it altogether. I realise Stuart that it hasn't been going long but surely there are collection rates available under the old system. I shouldn't think they are much better than these.
Kenny has to realise that, if he is going to promote punishment in the community, he must make the punishment work. The public is dubious. They say it doesn't hurt enough. It has to be made to work.
Scunnart: you're right there. I've worked in the schemes. Most guys accept prison as an inevitablility, and not a desperately awful one. It gets them out of Purnell's back-to-work schemes that don't work; they get away from girl friends with babies that are making their lives hard; it gets them away from other, harder crims out to do them over....
In fact, it's often welcomed.
It's just that Mr and Mrs Tout le Monde, horrified themsleves by the idea of prison, think it is a HUGE deterrant.
Wrong.
Ewwwww Subrosa... the word verification today is "suckiblo" eeeek!
Firstly tris, re your WV, don't you dare, it could be very dangerous!
Aye I'm along the lines of scunnert and yourself. When I worked with the young prison wasn't a threat and a fine was a joke because they knew full well they had no need to pay it.
We need to really tighten up on using the laws of enforcement. Best way I think is to hit them in the pocket at source such as pay or benefits. Not just the 50p a week business but really hard and if they have to go without their pint or whatever, then tough.
Tris - I once interviewed a prisoner in the Bar L who was up for early release. He didn't want out - he was safer inside he said.
Subrosa, well the Scotsman's leader said that the collection rates for the sheriff courts are 80% and for the district courts 70%, which might suggest that the more serious the process is percieved by the offender then the greater likelihood that they'll pay the fine. Thus since the fiscal fines are perhaps seen as a bit of a soft touch, thus less likely to be paid by offenders.
Even worse from a comparative perspective seems to be that a new system of enforcement officers was set up with the fiscal fines scheme.
Oh dear!
Morning Stuart. Yes I read that in the Scotsman. I actually composed this post from the Sunday Times before the Scotsman's publication.
It's common sense isn't it Stuart. If you get a letter saying you're guilty of a crime and stating you pay £250 then that seems so much less criminal that having to attend solicitors and court.
I don't know what these enforcement officers are doing. Sending out 57,000 letters doesn't seem good value to me. They should be stopping payment at source and to hell with the moans that benefits are cut. Could be a good lesson for some that benefits come with responsibilities.
Seems rather stupid too that money is deducted from benefits - the taxpayer pays the fine don't they.
Apologies for this sounding rather 'bitty' but I'm writing it whilst being interrupted by telephone calls and have lost concentration somewhat.
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