Fine dodgers will be getting a knock on their doors this month as police and Court officials try to claw back some of the £389m owed.

Operation Payback 2 is a repeat of a national criminal fines blitz which led to the recovery of £750,000 across the country in March.

In Bradford, more than £8,700 in unpaid fines was seized and 37 arrests made as enforcement officers executed 140 warrants to fine defaulters across the district. Across West Yorkshire more than £8m is owed.

The new operation, launched today, is supported by an advertising campaign on radio and in newspapers including the T&A.

Posters warning "Pay your fine or pay the price" will be put up in courts and police stations, leaflets with warning letters will be handed out to defaulters.

During the blitz in March more than 30 court enforcement officers visited ten areas of Bradford, including Manningham, Heaton, Bolton Woods, Girlington, Daisy Hill and Frizinghall.

Officials warned that fine defaulters in areas of Bradford not previously targeted could soon be getting a knock on the door.

West Yorkshire Magistrates Courts Service is not revealing the dates and locations of the latest operation but different places around the county will be targeted.

The service's collection and enforcement director, Maureen Diamond, said there were many outstanding warrants in the area and they were determined defaulters would not get away with non-payment.

She said: "The defaulters can either pay up or we will arrest them and take them to court immediately where the matter will be dealt with. There is the possibility of a prison sentence being imposed for persistent non-compliance."

In June it was revealed that West Yorkshire had the third lowest figure for collecting fines. In the year to March 2004 only 58 per cent of fines imposed by magistrates were paid - meaning four out of ten people dodged their fines.

Chris Leslie, Labour MP for Shipley, launched Operation Payback as the Courts Minister.

He said that between July and September 83 per cent of fines in West Yorkshire were paid as extra powers to get more information on defaulters through the DVLA and a credit reference agency were used.

"We can't allow people to persistently stick two fingers up at courts," he added.