§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many motorists fined for speeding as a result of evidence provided by cameras(a) had not paid the fine after six months and (b) had the fine written off as uncollectable in each of the last five years. [187002]
§ Mr. LeslieInformation on the number of motorists fined as a result of safety camera evidence is collected by the Home Office. The most recent data available are contained in the attached table. Details of the number of motorists that do not pay their fine after six months and/ or had the fine written off is not collected centrally. On 5 January I introduced a new policy, from which date fines can no longer be written off. Improving fine enforcement, including for speeding offences, is a priority and good progress continues to be made in improving performance in England and Wales. For the first full quarter of 2004–05 (April to June) the national payment rate was 81 per cent.
Fixed penalties and prosecutions for speeding offences detected by cameras1 in England and Wales, 1998 to 2002
Fixed penalty2 Prosecutions Total 1998 338,800 65,100 403,800 1999 423,000 75,800 498,600 2000 3599,200 109,200 699,400 2001 877,500 137,100 1,014,600 2002 1,135,400 275,900 1,411,300 1Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999. 2Paid i.e. no further action. 3Following publication of 2000 data, Northamptonshire police force revised their 2000 figures for the number of fixed penalty notices issued for speeding offences from 70,300 to 34,800 (a decrease of 35,500). In consequence, national data have been revised. Source: Home Office Statistical Bulletin 05/04—Motoring Offences and Breath Test Statistics, England and Wales 2002.