Fine dodgers finally pay up

IAN BUNTING

Two domestic abusers from Monklands who dodged paying fines for their offences were forced to pay up after warrants for their arrest were issued.

An Airdrie man convicted of assault to injury and hit in the pocket at the town’s sheriff court paid only part of his £1650 fine.

After the warrant was issued, he was arrested by police in Doncaster and held in custody until a family member quickly paid up the full amount.

Also, a Moodiesburn man convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour and fined at Coatbridge Justice of the Peace Court failed to pay up for more than two years – despite repeated warnings.

But he too settled the full fine of £500 after a warrant was issued and police came to arrest him.

The man also had unpaid fines of £210 for vandalism and £120 for a motorway driving offence and he settled them after facing the prospect of being taken into custody.

The 43rd Quarterly Fines Report published by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) revealed that the value of fines and penalties collected in the past three years has risen in all categories, reflecting consistently strong collection rates.

The report shows that the value of sheriff court fines imposed during the three-year period between 2016/17 and 2019/20 that were either paid or are on track to be paid has risen to 90 per cent – an increase of one percentage point over the last quarter.

The value of justice of the peace court fines shows a rise of two percentage points from 88 to 90 per cent over the same period, while fiscal penalties are up three points from 73 to 76 per cent and police fixed penalties are also up by three points from 78 to 81 per cent.

SCTS chief operations officer David Fraser said: “The latest Quarterly Fines Report reflects a continuing success story of steady improvement in fines collection and illustrates how fines enforcement teams continue to be highly effective in securing unpaid fines.

“It is very unwise not to pay a fine or not to engage with an enforcement officer if someone is having difficulty paying.

“With our national dedicated team of fines enforcement officers, nonpayment of a fine or non-engagement is simply not an option.”

In all cases, offenders have opportunities to make payment of their fines at a reasonable and affordable instalment rate.

Those in genuine financial difficulty can engage with enforcement officers to discuss payment terms.

Fines can be paid at www.scotcourts. gov.uk/payyourfine or by phoning 0300 790 0003.