County bucks trend with fines record (From Western Telegraph)

County bucks trend with fines record

Magistrates courts in the Dyfed Powys region have bucked the national trend when it comes to clearing fines.

Less than 60% of fines were cleared nationally over the last year but in Dyfed Powys nearly 75% were paid up, placing the region in the top ten.

Dyfed Powys Justices' chief executive Peter Townsend said that the impressive clear-up rate was down to the quality of their staff, particularly magistrates' clerks.

"We have plenty of extremely able people working for us and they give fines their full attention," he said.

He went on to explain how fine collection forms part of magistrates' training. They are trained to adopt a realistic approach to the imposition of fines when sentencing and to consider alternative sentences for those with limited finances.

Where fines are imposed, Mr Townsend said it was important to 'individualise methods of collection and put mechanisms in place to enable people to pay'.

But he added that despite their realistic and reasonable approach, magistrates were not afraid to treat persistent non-payers with the full force of the law.

"Although it is rarely necessary, magistrates are not afraid to use their powers to send in the bailiffs." he said.

Under extreme default, cases goods may be seized and sold with the money being used to pay off the outstanding fines.

Mr Townsend said that although Dyfed Powys has one of the best records on fine collection in England and Wales he hoped they could do even better.

But he added: "The collection of money isn't the be all and end all. It's the justice of the case that counts."