PRIVATISATION OF CRIMINAL FINE COLLECTION

Motion Text

That this House is concerned by plans to privatise criminal fine enforcement; believes that it is not right that a service intended to protect the public and ensure justice is served should be sold off to a private bailiff industry lacking in regulation and likely to target the easier to find, often more vulnerable people rather than the more serious and hard to chase criminals; recognises that court enforcement officers employed by the courts are the most cost-effective and fairest way of enforcing criminal fines; and further believes that HM Courts and Tribunals Service should be kept in the public sector, as recommended by the HM Court Service report, Criminal Compliance and Enforcement Services: A Blueprint for 2008 to 2012, published in July 2008.