Fine defaulters to get amnesty
Dec 8 2006 By Neil Mckay, The Journal
Fine defaulters are to be granted an amnesty if they pay off outstanding amounts before Christmas - the first scheme of its kind in the region.
Under the terms of the amnesty, people in County Durham who are subjected to an arrest warrant will have it waived if they turn up at Darlington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
Although government statistics show that courts in County Durham are the fourth most successful in Britain for collecting fines, there is still £3.3m outstanding.
Every year more than a third of all penalties remain unpaid across England and Wales, leaving more than £250m owed to the courts.
Durham and Darlington Magistrates' fines officer Rita Todd admitted many people have no intention of paying, and are often impossible to trace. Millions of pounds is eventually written off.
She said: "The amnesty is aimed at people who would pay but who are finding it difficult. We are telling them we are not ogres, we are here to help them if we possibly can.
"The courts continually look for new initiatives to collect unpaid fines. The amnesty gives people the chance to clear outstanding debts or to make arrangements to pay in the new year."
Brin Jones, manager for Durham & Darlington Courts, said court officials have been sending defaulters mobile phone text messages as another means of trying to recover unpaid fines. The courts also employ bailiffs, Philips Collection Service, who have collected in excess of £150,000 in unpaid fines since April. Magistrates are encouraged to send fewer people to prison and instead punish criminals with fines and compensation orders for their victims.
In the New Year the Government is to re-launch Operation Payback, a national campaign which will involve hundreds of civilian enforcement officers working from magistrates' courts across England and Wales chasing up unpaid debts.
Fine defaulters who have not paid their debts will face arrest and possible imprisonment. Fines can also be deducted from the Job Seekers Allowance and Income Support. Ms Todd said the amnesty in Durham was to give defaulters the opportunity to settle their debts before Operation Payback comes into force.
