MSP slams unpaid fines

LOTHIAN MSP David McLetchie has said the Scottish Court Service had been brought into “disrepute” after new figures showed it was owed £6.5 million in unpaid fines.

A report showed £2m worth of Sheriff Court fines remain outstanding for 2011/12, with the same amount in fiscal direct penalties still in arrears.

A further £1.4m is owed to the Justice of the Courts, while £1.1m of antisocial behaviour penalties are also unpaid.

The Scottish Conservative justice spokesman said: “These levels of non-payment bring the whole system into disrepute.”