§ 68. Mr. Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty tickets were issued in the Metropolitan Police District and in the City of London, respectively, during the year ended 31st December, 1961; what was the number of such tickets cancelled, or in respect of which payment was excused; and what was the number of such tickets in respect of which the fixed payment was paid voluntarily.
§ Mr. R. A. Butler87,248 fixed penalty tickets were issued in the Metropolitan Police District in 1961. The fixed penalty was paid in 50,992 of these oases without proceedings having been taken. Tickets were cancelled or payment excused in 16,296 cases. I understand that corresponding figures for the City of London were 3,736, 2,194 and 635 respectively.
§ 69. Mr. Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of meter-zone offences dealt with in the Metropolitan Police District and in the City of London, respectively, during the year ended 31st December, 1961; what was the number of such prosecutions in which the charges were withdrawn or dismissed; and what was the average time between the issue of the ticket and the court hearing.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerFigures are available only in respect of those metered zones where traffic wardens are employed and the fixed penalty system is in operation.
In the Metropolitan Police District during 1961, proceedings were taken in 6,388 cases owing to failure to pay the fixed penalty. The charge was with- 170W drawn or dismissed in 594 of these cases. The average time between the issue of a ticket and the court hearing was six to seven months. I am informed that the corresponding figures for the City of London were 377 cases; none; and three months.