Scotland’s court system is now owed more than £25million in unpaid criminal fines – a figure described as an “insult” to victims of crime.
Research carried out by the Scottish Conservatives showed the “staggering” level of arrears built up as a result of offenders dodging penalties has reached £21.5million since 2008.
The party said the figure was on top of the historic debt of £3.5million accumulated before 2011-12 which is left out of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) rolling figures.
The huge underpayment in fines comes at a time when the government is increasingly urging sheriffs to use fiscal penalties as an alternative to custodial sentences.
Last night a spokesman for the Scottish Government played down the issue and claimed overall collection rates had improved considerably since 2008 and were now at “consistently high levels”.
The SCS said more than £69million had been collected, or is on track to be paid in instalments.
Enforcement action can include clamping cars and deducting payment directly from benefits, savings or wages.
But the Tories, who uncovered the £3.5million figure under freedom of information legislation, claimed the tactic of fining people instead of jailing them was “backfiring”.
The party’s justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said: “The public will be staggered that more than £25million remains owed to the Scottish Court Service because criminals are failing to pay what they are due.
“Since the majority SNP government seems to prefer handing out fines to actually jailing offenders the least it can do is actually collect the fines outstanding.
“Not only is this money which could be put towards vital public services, but it also represents an insult to victims of crime.”
The government spokesman said collection rates would improve further when SCS is able to directly access information held by the UK Department of Work and Pensions to help track down defaulters.
He added that the Smith Commission, which examined what extra powers Holyrood should receive in the wake of the No vote in last year’s referendum, ruled that the bulk of fines income collected in Scotland should be retained for use in this country.