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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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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