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Technology against fine dodgers
15/05/2009
The Scottish Court Service has announced plans to deploy tracing technology to track down deliberate fine dodgers.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the hardcore minority of offenders who refuse to pay fines are in the sights of enforcement officers as he visited the SCS's Glasgow enforcement team just over a year after a new regime was introduced to collect and pursue fines and so reduce the burden on police and court time.
New fines enforcement officers (FEOs) pursue all criminal fines - court, fiscal and police penalties - across Scotland, including sums previously due for payment at the old local authority district courts.
FEOs can offer help and advice, including varying initial instalment rates for those facing genuine difficulty making payments, while for those who deliberately refuse to pay, officers have powers to: dock wages; freeze bank accounts; request that a court orders deductions from benefits; seize vehicles that may, by order of the court, be sold; or send the case to court if none of the options work.
Building on the first year, and a recently-launched public information campaign targeting non-payers, the SCS today outlined plans to:
- introduce new tracing technology to track down defaulters
- deploy Sheriffs Officers to target persistent defaulters who ignore payment demands
- work closely with the UK Department for Work & Pensions to speed up benefit deductions from fine dodgers
Mr MacAskill said:
"Non-payment is unacceptable and the SCS is right to target those who have ignored warnings to date. Fine dodgers should be clear that they're running out of chances and now face a range of sanctions to ensure they pay their debt to society.
"FEOs are a key part of the summary justice reforms that are freeing up more police to keep our streets safe and enabling the courts to focus proceedings on serious criminal cases.
"As the new measures take effect, I expect to see payment rates improve still further over the next year."
Eric McQueen, Director of SCS Field Services, added:
"Overall, fine collection rates are higher than ever. But we can continue to improve collection rates and the new tracing facilities we are introducing will identify addresses, employment and benefits details, making fines easier to collect.
"Over the summer fines enforcement officers will target persistent fine defaulters and our message is clear, fines must be paid."