Contempt of Court Act 1981

16 Enforcement of fines imposed by certain superior courts.E+W+N.I.

(1)Payment of a fine for contempt of court imposed by a superior court, other than the Crown Court or one of the courts specified in subsection (4) below, may be enforced upon the order of the court—

(a)in like manner as a judgment of the High Court for the payment of money; or

(b)in like manner as a fine imposed by the Crown Court.

(2)Where payment of a fine imposed by any court falls to be enforced as mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1)—

(a)the court shall, if the fine is not paid in full forthwith or within such time as the court may allow, certify to Her Majesty’s Remembrancer the sum payable;

(b)Her Majesty’s Remembrancer shall thereupon proceed to enforce payment of that sum as if it were due to him as a judgment debt; . . . F1

(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(3)Where payment of a fine imposed by any court falls to be enforced as mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (1), the provisions of [F3sections 139 and 140 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000] shall apply as they apply to a fine imposed by the Crown Court.

(4)Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to fines imposed by the criminal division of the Court of Appeal or by the House of Lords on appeal from that division.

(5)The Fines Act 1833 shall not apply to a fine to which subsection (1) of this section applies.

F4(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extent Information

E1In its application to Northern Ireland, s. 16 has effect as set out in Sch. 4, see s. 18.

Textual Amendments

F1Word repealed (1.1.1982) by Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54), Sch. 7

F3Words in s. 16(3) substituted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165, 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 85

F4S. 16(6) repealed (E.W.S) (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 17, ss. 45, 46, Sch. 3 Pt. I (with s. 38)