More than £16 million of Court fines have been written off across West Yorkshire in just three years.

Figures from the House of Commons show the amount of cash that has been cancelled since 2007, and a further £17 million is outstanding across the county.

A judge or magistrate can order a fine as the whole or part of a sentence for a 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 Shipley MP Philip Davies, who uncovered the figures through parliamentary answers, said criminals are getting away with their crimes by not having to pay.

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.

Mr Davies said the courts could stay open if fines were actively pursued.

He said: “The point the Government makes is we have to save money but there are all these fines outstanding.

“Closing the court will have a knock- on effect and cost more for police to have to travel and to transport prisoners. There will be lots of extra costs involved, while back at the ranch millions of pounds of unpaid fines are being written off.”

Along with Keighley MP Kris Hopkins and Skipton MP Julian Smith, Mr Davies has lobbied courts minister Jonathan Djanogly over the closures.

Mr Hopkins said while he accepted savings needed to be made, Her Majesty’s Court Service should focus on collecting unpaid fines.

The Government believes closing the courts across the country could save £15.3m a year in running costs.