Criminal Justice Act 1982

Fine enforcement

51Variation of instalments and means inquiries

(1)The following section shall be inserted after section 85 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980—

“85AVariation of instalments of sum adjudged to be paid by conviction.

Where under section 75 above a magistrates' court orders that a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction shall be paid by instalments, the court, on an application made by the person liable to pay that sum, shall have power to vary that order by varying the number of instalments payable, the amount of any instalment payable, and the date on which any instalment becomes payable.”.

(2)In section 86 of that Act (power of magistrates* court to fix day for appearance of offender at means inquiry etc.)—

(a)the following subsections shall be substituted for subsection (1)—

“(1)A magistrates' court which has exercised in relation to a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction either of the powers conferred by section 75(1) above shall have power, either then or later, to fix a day on which, if the relevant condition is satisfied, the offender must appear in person before the court for either or both of the following purposes, namely—

(a)to enable an inquiry into his means to be made under section 82 above ;

(b)to enable a hearing required by subsection (5) of the said section 82 to be held.

(1A)Where the power which the court has exercised is the power to allow time for payment of a sum (" the adjudged sum "), the relevant condition is satisfied if any part of that sum remains unpaid on the day fixed by the court.

(1B)Where the power which the court has exercised is the power to order payment by instalments, the relevant condition is satisfied if an instalment which has fallen due remains unpaid on the day fixed by the court.”;

and

(b)the following paragraph shall be substituted for subsection (4) (a)—

“(a)the relevant condition is satisfied ; and”.

52Reciprocal execution in England and Wales and Northern Ireland of warrants of commitment for non-payment of sum adjudged to be paid by conviction

After section 38A of the [1977 c. 45.] Criminal Law Act 1977 there shall be inserted the following section—

“38BFurther provision for execution of warrants of commitment; for non-payment of sum adjudged to be paid by conviction in England and Wales or Northern Ireland.

(1)Subject to subsection (6) below, a person against whom there has been issued in England and Wales a warrant committing him to prison in default of payment of a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction may be arrested in Northern Ireland by any member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary or the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve in like manner as if the warrant were a warrant committing him to prison in default of payment of a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction in Northern Ireland ; and Article 158(4) and (5) of the [S.I. 1981 No. 1675 (N.I. 26).] Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (execution without possession of the warrant and execution on Sunday) shall apply to the execution in Northern Ireland of any such warrant which has been issued in England and Wales as they apply in relation to the execution of a warrant for arrest.

(2)Subject to subsection (6) below, a person against whom there has been issued in Northern Ireland a warrant committing him to prison in default of payment of a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction may be arrested in England and Wales by any constable acting within his police area in like manner as if the warrant were a warrant committing him to prison in default of payment of a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction in England and Wales.

(3)A person arrested by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) above under a warrant of commitment may be detained under it in any prison in the part of the United Kingdom in which he was arrested; and while so detained he shall be treated for all purposes as if he were detained under a warrant of commitment issued in that part of the United Kingdom.

(4)A warrant of commitment issued by a court in Northern Ireland may be executed in England and Wales by virtue of this section whether or not it has been endorsed under section 27 of the [1851 c. 93.] Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851.

(5)In this section—

• " part of the United Kingdom " means England and Wales or Northern Ireland;

• "prison" means—

  (a)

  in the case of a person who is under the age of 21 years arrested in England and Wales, any place in which he could be detained under section 12(10) of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 ; and

  (b)

  in the case of a person under that age arrested in Northern Ireland, a young offenders centre; and

• " sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction" has the meaning given by section 150(3) of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 or, in Northern Ireland, Article 2(5) of the [S.I. 1981 No. 1675 (N.I. 26).] Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

(6)This section shall not apply to the arrest of persons under the age of 17 years.”.