Essex is leading the way on collecting fines from people who appear at the magistrates courts.
The 94 percent success in collecting the cash is down to a tougher approach in cracking down on fine defaulters says the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
Between April 2003 and March 2004 Essex courts imposed £7.5m in fines. Of that £7m was paid, although some of the cash covered fines outstanding from previous years.
The success is attributed to magistrates receiving greater powers to deal more effectively with fine defaulters.
Measures include putting defaulters on a register and their details given to credit providers, clamping their vehicles, increasing their fines and automatically deducting the fines from their wages or benefits.
There is also a new offence of failing to provide details of income and expenditure and a new policy which means that fines can no longer be written off.
There are also incentives for fines collection staff.
Published Monday June 28, 2004
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