Part 1 U.K. Provisions for Combatting Crime and Disorder

Chapter 1E+W On the Spot Penalties for Disorderly Behaviour

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

ProcedureE+W

7 Payment of penaltyE+W

(1)If a person to whom a penalty notice is given decides to pay the penalty, he must pay it to the [F1designated officer] specified in the notice.

(2)Payment of the penalty may be made by properly addressing, pre-paying and posting a letter containing the amount of the penalty (in cash or otherwise).

(3)Subsection (4) applies if a person—

(a)claims to have made payment by that method, and

(b)shows that his letter was posted.

(4)Unless the contrary is proved, payment is to be regarded as made at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.

(5)Subsection (2) is not to be read as preventing the payment of a penalty by other means.

(6)A letter is properly addressed for the purposes of subsection (2) if it is addressed in accordance with the requirements specified in the penalty notice.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 7(1) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 398; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3

8 Registration certificatesE+W

(1)The chief officer of police may, in respect of any registrable sum, issue a certificate (a “registration certificate”) stating that the sum is registrable for enforcement against the defaulter as a fine.

(2)If that officer issues a registration certificate, he must cause it to be sent to the [F2designated officer for the local justice] area in which the defaulter appears to that officer to reside.

(3)A registration certificate must—

(a)give particulars of the offence to which the penalty notice relates, and

(b)state the name and last known address of the defaulter and the amount of the registrable sum.

(4)“Registrable sum” means a sum that may be registered under this section as a result of section 4(5) [F3or (6)].

(5)“Defaulter” means the person against whom that sum may be registered.

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 8(2) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 399; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3

9 Registration of sums payable in defaultE+W

(1)If the [F4designated officer for a local justice] area receives a registration certificate, he must register the registrable sum for enforcement as a fine in that area by entering it in the register of a magistrates’ court acting for that area.

(2)But if it appears to him that the defaulter does not reside in that area—

(a)subsection (1) does not apply to him; but

(b)he must cause the certificate to be sent to the person appearing to him to be the [F5designated officer for the local justice area in which the defaulter resides] .

(3)A [F6designated officer] registering a sum under this section for enforcement as a fine, must give the defaulter notice of the registration.

(4)The notice must—

(a)specify the amount of the sum registered, and

(b)give the information with respect to the offence, and the authority for registration, which was included in the registration certificate under section 8.

(5)If a sum is registered in a magistrates’ court as a result of this section, any enactment referring (in whatever terms) to a fine imposed, or other sum adjudged to be paid, on conviction by such a court applies as if the registered sum were a fine imposed by that court on the conviction of the defaulter on the date on which the sum was registered.

Textual Amendments

F4Words in s. 9(1) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 400(2); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3

F5Words in s. 9(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 400(3); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3

F6Words in s. 9(3) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 400(4); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3

10 Enforcement of finesE+W

(1)In this section—

  • “fine” means a sum which is enforceable as a fine as a result of section 9; and

  • “proceedings” means proceedings for enforcing a fine.

(2)Subsection (3) applies if, in any proceedings, the defaulter claims that he was not the person to whom the penalty notice concerned was issued.

(3)The court may adjourn the proceedings for a period of not more than 28 days for the purpose of allowing that claim to be investigated.

(4)On the resumption of proceedings that have been adjourned under subsection (3), the court must accept the defaulter’s claim unless it is shown, on a balance of probabilities, that he was the recipient of the penalty notice.

(5)The court may set aside a fine in the interests of justice.

(6)[F7Subject to any regulations made under subsection (7), if] the court does set a fine aside it must—

(a)give such directions for further consideration of the case as it considers appropriate; or

(b)direct that no further action is to be taken in respect of the allegation that gave rise to the penalty notice concerned.

[F8(7)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to the directions that the court may, or must, give or the orders it may, or must, make if it sets aside a fine relating to a sum registered under section 8 on the basis that section 4(8) applies.]

Textual Amendments