Collection of fines

The collection and enforcement of fines, as well as other financial orders such as prosecution costs, compensation and surcharges, is conducted by the magistrates’ courts regardless of whether the fine was imposed in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court. Section 132 of the Sentencing Act 2020 (SA 2020) (also referred to as the Sentencing Code), Schedule 5 to the Courts Act 2003 (CoA 2003), Part 3 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1980 (MCA 1980) and the criminal procedure rules 2020 (CrimPR 2020), SI 2020/759 make provisions for the payment and enforcement of fines and give fines officers powers of enforcement when fines are not paid.

The magistrates’ court which sentenced the offender is responsible for the collection of the fine and financial orders made against them. Where a fine is imposed by the Crown Court, the fine order will specify which magistrates’