Courts need an unpaid fines levy

SOME magistrates in the UK recently resigned in protest at a victims levy being loaded onto the normal fines imposed in law courts for offences of a common nature. As a retired man, I look back on a working life that involved overseas tours of duty of

SOME magistrates in the UK recently resigned in protest at a 'victims' levy' being loaded onto the normal fines imposed in law courts for offences of a common nature.

As a retired man, I look back on a working life that involved overseas tours of duty of three years or so. I owned a property which I let out to tenants during my overseas occupation.

One set of tenants took advantage of my absence and 'cleaned me out'. They eventually appeared in court where they were fined and ordered to reimburse me for the stolen items.

These requirements were ignored despite knowledge of the culprits' whereabouts (in another 'to let' property). My solicitor advised that in many similar situations fines and repayment orders become academic with aggrieved parties continuing pursuits at their own expense and risk. Personal risk in some instances.

The event I refer to had taken place long ago, and if I had any notion that things might have changed since then, I was disabused of the notion within the last month as I sighted a newspaper article noting unpaid fines during the past 12 months amounting to many millions of pounds.

I have never been reimbursed for my stolen goods and in addition to the 'victims levy, would welcome an 'Unpaid fines levy' in addition to transparent accounts showing who pays what to whom, together with the final destination of such funds.

A LOCKWOOD

Stretham