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<p> </p><p> </p><p>The amounts of financial impositions administratively cancelled
and legally cancelled in each year since 2009-10 are set out in the table below</p><p>
</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Legally
Cancelled</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Administratively Cancelled</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>£58,277,772</p></td><td><p>£47,398,379</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>£62,263,874</p></td><td><p>£50,712,367</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>£63,957,203</p></td><td><p>£63,135,442</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>£62,594,601</p></td><td><p>£75,868,426</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>The number of financial impositions administratively cancelled and legally
cancelled in each year since 2011/12 are set out in the table below. Data on the number
of financial impositions cancelled is not available prior to 2011/12.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Legally
Cancelled</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Administratively Cancelled</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>161,455</p></td><td><p>226,955</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>165,195</p></td><td><p>269,486</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It
is not possible to identify the amounts or numbers written off for just the fine element.
The amounts above therefore include all elements of financial penalties (excluding
confiscation orders): fines, costs, compensation and victim surcharge. The amounts
cancelled in a particular year can relate to impositions from that year or any previous
year.</p><p> </p><p>Financial penalties are only administratively cancelled after
all attempts to collect the amount outstanding have been made, and in accordance with
strict cancellation criteria. These penalties can be written back on to the system
if more information is found – for instance, a new address for the offender.</p><p>
</p><p>Legal cancellations can be applied after the case has been reconsidered by
a Judge or Magistrate. Typically, legal cancellations are used where a case has been
re-opened and the defendant has been found not guilty, following the presentation
of additional information. Legal cancellations can be full or partial remittances
of financial penalties.</p><p> </p><p>HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has
carried out a fundamental review of financial penalty accounts, actively targeting
accounts to achieve compliance at the earliest point, as well as tackling old accounts,
and administratively cancelling them where there is no realistic chance of collection
because they do not have enough information to trace the debtors. This explains the
increase in the value of administrative cancellations seen in the figures.</p><p>
</p><p>This enabled HMCTS to focus resources on increasing collections on accounts
which can be enforced, resulting in the record high level of collection in 2012/13.</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>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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