£22m owed in court fines and charges

Criminals owe more than £22million to courts in Kent, it has been revealed.

The figure came to light following a Kent Messenger Freedom of Information request which also revealed courts imposed fines of almost £3million more than they collected last year (2015/16).

In total, judges and JPs at the county’s six magistrates’ and two crown courts ordered offenders to pay £ 15,828,535 of costs, fines, compensation orders, criminal court charges and victim surcharges.

The previous year £12,924,526 of orders were made. Part of the reason for the difference is that criminal court charges – which amounted to £1,725,445 – were in place for most of 2015.

The controversial charge was brought in by then Justice Secretary Chris Grayling in April 2015, before being scrapped by his successor Michael Gove eight months later as part of a review of financial sanctions.

Under the legislation offenders had to pay between £150 and £1,200 depending on their plea and the severity of the offence, but the policy was criticised as not fit for purpose and more than 50 magistrates resigned as a result.

Since Apr i l 2 0 1 4 the amount owed in Kent has risen by almost £ 4million from £18,527,317 to £22,232,587. The current figure is likely higher but the latest data is not yet available.

A spokesman for HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) said: “HMCTS takes the issue of financial penalty enforcement very seriously and is working to ensure that clamping down on defaulters is a continued priority nationwide.

“It actively pursues all outstanding imposi t ions until certain they cannot be collected.”