As of 2007, the UK Ministry of Justice was imposing over £350 million in new court fines annually, only half of which were collected within six months. In 2011, the Ministry faced over £600 million in outstanding unpaid fines.

Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), which administers the collection of fines, incurs significant costs from non-compliant debtors. In addition to resources for case-management and follow-up phone calls, bailiffs are assigned to recover the debt directly. As of 2012 there were 580,000 of these bailiff cases each year, which often end up back in court and require further processing.

Researchers from the UK Cabinet Office’s Behavioural Insights Team targeted debtors who failed to pay their court fine on time. All subjects had already received a written notice in the mail warning them that a bailiff could enforce the fine through arrest or seizure of property.

Source: B-Hub