Missing £5.4m: 80% of NI court fines go unpaid

Over 22,000 penalties transferred to collection service in past year

NEARLY £5.5m in fines issued by courts in Northern Ireland in the last financial year went unpaid, new figures reveal.

More than 80% of the 22,725 court-imposed fines issued here in 2023/24 were transferred to an enforcement and recovery service after not being paid.

Since 2019, almost £23m in unpaid fines has been referred to the Fine Collection and Enforcement Service (FCS).

DUP MLA Michelle Mcilveen (right) said: “Only five years ago 42.8% of court imposed fines were sent for enforcement which seemed a high figure at that point.

“To have seen that rising to almost 81% for 2023/24 is quite staggering.”

SIXTEEN of Northern Ireland’s leading charities have come together to offer a unique ‘one-stop shop’ for help during the cost of living crisis.

The charities say the extent of the cost of living crisis is so great that many individuals are turning to charity services for the first time in their lives.

The Cost of Living 24 campaign aims to make navigating community and voluntary services easy, local and accessible with a dedicated website and freephone number (0808 189 0036).

The campaign brings together information about a wide range of advice and practical support, as well as services and foodbanks in towns across Northern Ireland.

Areas of support include advice on benefits and entitlements, access to foodbanks and community and voluntary services, help with affordable childcare, fuel poverty, child poverty and housing.

Services are offered to meet the needs of anyone struggling due to the cost of living, regardless of age, location or background and include those offered by Age NI, Carers NI and Disability Action.

The partnership highlights services in every part of Northern Ireland providing everyday support — from energy bills and rent and mortgage costs to shopping support and foodbanks.

Jonny Currie, Head of NI at Trussell Trust said: “The impact of the cost of living crisis is that more and more people are struggling to afford the essentials.

“This pressure is being felt by many people who have never found themselves in this situation before and many don’t know where to turn for advice and support.

“We also know that people are often ashamed or afraid to ask. Cost of Living 24 is intended to be a single point of information on the support available to anyone struggling to make ends meet.”

Mental health charity, Inspire, has reported that the burdens of current money worries are taking a toll on people’s mental health.

Kerry Anthony, CEO at Inspire said: “As a group of charities, we want people to know that they’re not alone in trying to cope – help is available. We have brought this together on the community wellbeing online hub as our experience of working in partnership during the pandemic showed the power of pulling together.”

The Cost of Living 24 campaign can be found at www.communitywellbeing.info/cost-of-living-24 — or search ‘Community Wellbeing Cost of Living 24’. You can also freephone 0808 189 0036 or webchat on www.communitywellbeing.info