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Figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) show that the debit balance on criminals’ financial penalties has reached record levels and increased by £99million in just the last year.

The spiralling debt owed to the courts from criminals who don’t pay their fines has increased year-on-year despite officials writing off around £10million every year.

In the space of just five years the unpaid fines from criminals has soared from £506million to this year’s figure of £893million – at the rate of more than £200,000 every single day.

MoJ figures show how the debt keeps getting bigger with £746million worth of fines being slapped on criminals last year yet only £639million being paid.

Officials say some of this increase in recent years is due to the fact that some debts which had been written off in the past were later reinstated as it was hoped new technologies might make it easier to track people down.

Critics of the system say that too many criminals are offered the chance to avoid prison by being offered a fine, often when there is little prospect of the person having the means to pay.

It is also claimed that courts sometimes opt for a financial penalty rather than jail as they are all too aware that the prison system is already significantly overcrowded.

Despite unpaid fines being at a record high the true figure owed to the courts is even bigger as that will include any compensation, legal costs or victim surcharge orders that have failed to be paid.

At the same time millions of pounds are written off by courts every year as they accept that they are never going to receive the money.

It means hundreds of offenders who were fined for offences such as vandalism, public disorder, stealing and assault are effectively being let off after the authorities lose heart in chasing the outstanding penalty.

Often the courts decide to stop chasing the fines because they have lost track of the offender and think it will cost too much to chase down the outstanding penalty.

The huge backlog has arisen despite the courts trying to use modern techniques such as telephone and text messaging to chase debtors. One typical message read: “Ur £200 fine outstanding. Pls pay soonest.”

Officials also say they are increasingly using court orders to deduct money from the benefits or earnings of people who have been fined.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance: “Taxpayers expect the courts to deal firmly with fine-dodgers. If criminals won’t pay the fine, many will ask whether they should be doing the time instead. The government should use every means at its disposal to recover missing funds.”

A HM Courts and Tribunals spokesperson said: “We rigorously pursue court fines and offenders can be sent to prison for non-payment.”

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