More than £3 million in Court fines are outstanding across West Yorkshire.

A judge or magistrate can order a fine as the whole or part of a sentence for a wide range of offences, including theft, assault, drink-driving, not having motor insurance, or failing to pay a TV licence.

Failure to pay penalties can result in imprisonment.

But, according to Ministry of Justice figures, many criminals are failing to pay up.

At the end of the financial year 2009/10, a total of £3.2 million was outstanding which could have accumulated over a number of years of unpaid fines.

In addition, the figures show a further £16.6 million of new fines were issued in the same period across West Yorkshire. The problem is mirrored across the country with fines being dodged. The amount can also include compensation, costs and victims surcharge and unpaid fixed penalty notices.

A spokesman for Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS) said: “The courts will do everything within their powers to trace those who do not pay. Money can be taken from an offender’s earnings or from benefits if they are unemployed. Warrants can be issued instructing court employed agents to seize and sell goods belonging to the offender. Ultimately an offender can be imprisoned for non-payment of their fine.

“The Criminal Compliance and Enforcement Services – A Blueprint for 2008 to 2012 is being implemented by all HMCS regions. The blueprint sets out HMCS’s strategic objective which is for a cheaper, faster and more proportionate enforcement system which primarily focuses on ‘first time’ compliance whilst continuing to apply the principles of rigorous enforcement to the hard core of fine dodgers.”

HMIC says steps are being taken to improve collection rates, including contacting offenders via telephone and text and having full access to the Department for Work and Pensions benefit information.

Across England and Wales a staggering £541 million of court fines are outstanding. In June Government published proposals – currently out to consultation – to shut down 103 magistrates’ courts and 54 county courts across England and Wales, including Keighley Magistrates – which sits at Bingley – and Keighley County Court, and Skipton Magistrates and County Court.

It said the closures could save about £15.3m per year in running costs along with a saving of £21.5m on maintenance costs across the country.