A BLITZ on fine dodgers has been launched by courts in Swindon.

The government-backed drive codenamed Operation Payback 2 aims to collect hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash penalties which have not been paid by various offenders from all courts.

Government minister Chris Leslie warned fine defaulters faced arrest unless they handed over what they owed.

He said: "Operation Payback 2 means that compensation owed to victims, and money owed to the court, and therefore the taxpayer, is collected.

"But while it's important to recoup money owing, success shouldn't be measured solely in monetary terms.

"The fines blitz sends a strong message to offenders that crime definitely does not pay and that we are serious about enforcing court decisions.

"This plays a vital role in increasing public confidence in the criminal justice system."

As part of the nationally co-ordinated crackdown, fine dodgers face having money deducted from wages or benefits, car clamping or arrest and imprisonment.

And for the first time police will be able to use road blocks and Automatic Number Plate Recognition units.

These will target known fine defaulters on persistent offender lists and let police catch up with them.

John Burbeck, Spokesman on Criminal Justice at the Association of Chief Police Officers, said the police will have a key role in this latest blitz, which comes on the heels of a similar drive earlier this year.

He said: "As well as working with magistrates court staff in helping to identify which outstanding warrants to pursue, police will help track down offenders via their ANPR mobile units.

"When we stop vehicles to check whether they're taxed and insured we'll also check for any outstanding warrants, in particular fines.

"Increasingly, we are exploring more opportunities for operational officers to assist magistrates courts to help track down hard to find offenders.

"This is just one more way that we can contribute to recouping money owed and ensuring that criminals don't evade justice."

Phil Sands