MORE than £26 million remains outstanding in court fines – more than a quarter of the £92million imposed – prompting claims the non-payment rate is making a joke of the justice system.
Figures released by the Scottish Court Service (SCS) show the mounting total remains outstanding for fines issued between 2009/10 and September 30 last year – a £1.4m increase on the value of fines outstanding at the same point last year.
The statistics also show an increase in the number of remaining fines – with 185,419 outstanding compared to 170,980 at the same point last year.
SCS officials claim they rigorously pursue all outstanding fines, but opposition politicians have hit out at the "unacceptable" figures.
Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont MSP said: "This level of non-payment makes a joke of the whole system. It undermines public confidence, and sends a message to criminals that – even when they are lucky enough to dodge jail – they won't get chased up for their unpaid fines.
"Fiscal fines and community sentences are supposed to be an alternative to prosecution, but when they are simply being ignored by so many, it appears they are no alternative at all."
Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said the issue was a "growing crisis" for Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill. He added: "The Scottish Government has simply sat back and failed to act. Every time a fine goes unpaid, it undermines the integrity of the Scottish justice system.
"Fines are increasingly being used to deal with assaults and other serious crimes, and it is unacceptable these offenders can just walk away."
The figures show that, of the £26.3m outstanding, £18.5m is in arrears, with the remainder on track to be paid in instalments.
About £6.8m remains outstanding from the first two quarters of 2012-13, with sheriff court fines accounting for £3m of that.
SCS executive director Cliff Binning said: "We pursue all unpaid fines, from road violations to court penalties. We will take decisive enforcement action if you fail to pay a fine."
A Scottish Government spokesman said the SCS adopts a robust approach to chasing outstanding fines. He added: "It gives a message to defaulters there is no place to hide. Many fines are paid in instalments and are paid to the UK Treasury."
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