June 15, 2010 3.37 pm This story is over 164 months old

Fine dodgers targeted in new crackdown

Pay up: Court Enforcement Officers will chase up repayments from fine dodgers over the next fortnight.

Court fine dodgers across the city will receive blitz visits from Her Majesty’s Court Enforcement Officers (CEOs) over the next fortnight, to chase up repayments.

Those who avoid paying court fines in Lincolnshire are the target of Operation Crack Down, which started on June 14th.

Enforcement agencies will also have warrants to confiscate property during this operation, and those who refuse to co-operate will be arrested, according to Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS).

The ultimate sanction that the court can impose for such cases is imprisonment, and it is said Court time has been set aside to deal specifically with fine dodgers.

“The courts will do everything within their powers to trace those who do not pay. Money can be taken from an offender’s earnings or from benefits if they are unemployed,” said Robin Lovell, HMCS Area Director for Lincolnshire.

“Warrants can be issued instructing court employed agents to seize and sell goods belonging to the offender. Ultimately an offender can be imprisoned for non-payment of their fine,” Lovell added.

Over £3.1 million were recovered in Court penalties during 2009-09 across Lincolnshire, and 64,000 warrants to seize and sell goods were issued by magistrates’ courts in the Midlands in the same period.

If you have an outstanding fine, you can use the National Fine Payment Line on 0300 790 9901 or pay online.

Photo: Sebastian Crump via Flickr