Fines

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Dear Avon and Somerset Constabulary,

Under the freedom of information act please could I request the following:

1) What fine your police force can impose fines for
2) What steps your constabulary takes in reclaiming money imposed on fines before sending it to a magistrates court
3) How much money is collected, on average, by your constabulary in fines
4) How long it takes for your police force to send the case to a magistrates
5) What assistance can someone with mental health issues get with paying their fine and how they are identified.
6) What percentage of crimes committed which had a fine were collected by your authority before going to a magistrates

Yours faithfully,

Jonathan Mantle

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

 

 

 

Corporate Information Management Department

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Facsimile 01275 814667

    

Mr Jonathan Mantle Our Reference 098/16

[FOI #311084 email] Date 18 January 2016

 

 

Dear Mr Mantle

 

Thank you for your request which I have copied below. In order for us to
provide you with the information you require some clarification is
necessary.

 

1) What fine your police force can impose fines for

2) What steps your constabulary takes in reclaiming money imposed on fines
before sending it to a magistrates court

3) How much money is collected, on average, by your constabulary in fines

4) How long it takes for your police force to send the case to a
magistrates

5) What assistance can someone with mental health issues get with paying
their fine and how they are identified.

6) What percentage of crimes committed which had a fine were collected by
your authority before going to a magistrates

 

In relation to question 3, can you please provide a timeframe for the
information you are seeking – for example, January – December 2015 or the
last 3 months etc.

 

I will be unable to start to process your request until I have received
your clarification. If your clarification is not received within 20
working days this request will be closed.

Yours sincerely,

 

R Pritchard

 

Freedom of Information Officer

Corporate Information Management Department

 

Please note;

1.    Requests and responses may be published on Avon and Somerset
Constabulary’s website (within 24 hours), some of which may contain a link
to additional information, which may provide you with further
clarification.

2.    Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you in order to
seek clarification, all other communication should be made in writing.

3.    Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the right to
request a re-examination of your case under its review procedure.

 

 

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Dear Mr Pritchard

Please could I have information present from the last five years and presented in a break down of each year please.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Mantle

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

 

 

Corporate Information Management Department

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Facsimile 01275 814667

    

Mr Jonathan Mantle Our Reference 098/16

[FOI #311084 email]
Date 19 January 2016
 

 

Dear Mr Mantle

 

I write in connection with your request for information dated 18^th
January 2016 concerning fines. This request will be dealt with under the
terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

Your request will now be considered and you will receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act. In some
circumstances Avon and Somerset Constabulary may be unable to achieve this
deadline if consideration needs to be given to the public interest test.
If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised time-scale at
the earliest opportunity.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Rebecca Pritchard

Freedom of Information Officer

Corporate Information Management Department

 

Please note;

1.     Requests and responses may be published on Avon and Somerset
Constabulary’s website (within 24 hours), some of which may contain a link
to additional information, which may provide you with further
clarification.

2.     Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you in order to
seek clarification, all other communication should be made in writing.

3.     Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the right to
request a re-examination of your case under its review procedure.

 

 

 

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#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

1 Attachment

Corporate Information Management Department

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Facsimile 01275 814667

Email [email address]    

 

 

 

 

Mr Jonathan Mantle Our Reference 098/16

[FOI #311084 email] Date 12 February 2016

 

 

 

Dear Mr Mantle

 

I write in connection with your request for information dated 15^th
January 2016 concerning your freedom of Information Request.

 

Specifically you asked:

 

1)    What fine your police force can impose fines for

 

2) What steps your constabulary takes in reclaiming money imposed on fines
before sending it to a magistrates court

 

3) How much money is collected, on average, by your constabulary in fines

 

4) How long it takes for your police force to send the case to a
Magistrates

 

5) What assistance can someone with mental health issues get with paying
their fine and how they are identified.

 

6) What percentage of crimes committed which had a fine were collected by
your authority before going to a magistrates

 

Please could I have information present from the last five years and
presented in a breakdown of each year please.

 

Q1. Fines can be imposed for road traffic offences and public disorders.
The specific [1]motoring offences can be found on our website and
[2]police issued penalty notices can be found on the ‘niderect’ website. I
have provided links for reference.

 

Q2. When a ticket is issued, we prepare all the relevant paperwork and
record the time limits in which ticket must be paid. We send reminder
letters when required. If the fine is not paid within the time limit, then
a file is prepared for magistrates.

 

Q3. This information is not held as Avon and Somerset Constabulary do not
collect the fines.

 

Q4. The time that it takes for a court case to be prepared is not
recorded. The time period between issuing a ticket and sending the case to
magistrates is set by a statutory time limit and will vary depending on
the type of ticket issued.

 

Q5. This information is not held by the constabulary. For the purpose of
the Act, information that is recorded/documented is within the scope of
the Act.

 

Please note that an individual must be able to accept the offence
committed before a ticket can be issued. If any individual requires
assistance in paying the fine, the magistrates can take hardship into
account and set a payment plan for full payment of the fine. If an
individual requires assistance in understanding and completing paperwork,
then they will be advised to seek assistance from a family member, one of
our front offices or the Citizens Advice Bureau.

 

Q6. This information is not held as Avon and Somerset Constabulary do not
collect the fines.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Rebecca Pritchard

Freedom of Information Officer

Corporate Information Management Department

 

 

Please note:

1.     Requests and responses may be published on Avon and Somerset
Constabulary’s website (within 24 hours), some of which may contain a link
to additional information, which may provide you with further
clarification.

2.     Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you in order to
seek clarification, all other communication should be made in writing.

3.     Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the right to
request a re-examination of your case under its review procedure (copy
attached).

 

 

 

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