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<p> </p><p> </p><p>For the financial year to date, 1st April 2013 to 30th September
2013 (latest published data) 614,693 financial imposition accounts were opened. Of
those accounts opened in that period, 182,183 accounts were closed. A further 199,623
accounts were compliant with their payment terms.</p><p> </p><p>Financial impositions
include fines imposed in the Magistrates and Crown courts, costs orders, compensation
orders, victim surcharge orders and unpaid fixed penalty notices and penalty notices
for disorder which are registered as fines for enforcement. The numbers of accounts
closed is the position as at the end of September 2013 and those accounts outstanding
could now have been closed or collected.. Accounts that are closed are accounts with
a zero balance which could have been by payment or administrative or legal cancellation.</p><p>
</p><p>HM Courts and Tribunals Service (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. HMCTS actively pursues all outstanding impositions
until certain they cannot be collected. Collection reached an all time high at the
end of 2012/13 and collection has continued to rise in this financial year. At the
end of September 2013 total collection (all imposition types excluding confiscation
orders) was higher than the same point in the previous year and the outstanding balance
had reduced since the start of the financial year. On average over the last 12 month
69% of accounts have been either closed or are compliant with payment terms by 12
months after imposition.</p><p> </p><p>HMCTS are actively seeking an external provider
for the future delivery of compliance and enforcement services. This will bring the
necessary investment and innovation to significantly improve the collection of criminal
financial penalties and reduce the cost of the service to the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>
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