Policing and Crime Bill 2008-09

Mr. Gerrard
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what sanctions would apply for the non-payment of fines imposed under the provisions of Clause 26 of the Policing and Crime Bill 2008-09.

Mr. Alan Campbell
I have been asked to reply.

Non-payment of this particular fine will be treated no differently to the non-payment of any other fine.

The Courts Act 2003 introduced a series of measures aimed at improving fine collection. These included making it mandatory that a Deduction from Benefits Order or an Attachment of Earnings Order be the first form of enforcement to be applied following default or history of default. It introduced clamping of vehicles, fines payment work (currently being piloted), fine increases and the registration of financial credit (which may affect their ability to obtain credit). Other enforcement tools include warrants of execution, delivery and/or possession (where a bailiff may seize goods, money and land to the value of the debt). Imprisonment is the ultimate sanction for the non-payment for financial penalties, where the court has exhausted all other enforcement options.