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Fighting against fine dodgers
07/03/2008
A crackdown on fine dodgers has been launched with new powers to dock wages and seize the cars of offenders who won't pay coming into force next week.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the crackdown will be backed by a new team of fines enforcement officers (FEOs) across Scotland.
He said:
"We are introducing big changes to how the police, fiscals and courts deal with less serious offences.
"We want 'summary justice' to be quicker, smarter and more focussed on the needs of victims and witnesses - so offenders are dealt with effectively.
"That includes getting smarter about collecting court fines. Taking up less court time and freeing up our police to be where they and the public want them - on our streets.
"That's why new fines enforcement officers, employed by the courts, have a big role to play.
"They will be able to dock wages, freeze bank accounts or seize vehicles of offenders who deliberately fail to pay fines.
"They can also ask a court to deduct money owed from their benefits or ultimately send the case back to court if none of the new options work.
"At the same time, they'll be able to help and advise those who want to pay but have genuine problems doing so. For example they will be able to change weekly payments that were initially set when the court imposed the fine.
"So those who won't pay will be targeted with new powers and those who can't pay will be offered advice to help ensure they pay their debts to society."
The Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament on January 18 last year. The Act contains a range of measures to improve the operation of the summary justice system.
Many of these changes came into force on December 10, 2007. The changes are intended to improve the speed, effectiveness and efficiency of the summary courts, while making them more visible to the communities they serve.
An essential part of the reforms is that victims and the public in general should have confidence that penalties will be robustly enforced.
FEOs, whose work will free up court and police time, will have the power to:
- dock wages
- freeze bank accounts;
- seize vehicles that can, by order of the court, be sold on
- request that a court orders deductions from benefits
- send the case back to court if none of these options work
At the same time, for those with genuine difficulty paying fines, FEOs will be able to offer help and advice, and to vary initial instalment rates.