Cash seized as fines dodged

MORE than 600 people convicted of an offence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last year had cash seized after failing to pay fines.

New figures from the Scottish Court Service showed that 375 people had money deducted from their benefits between April last year and March to pay off fines.

Another 232 had cash seized from their bank accounts during the same period, while 38 had money taken off their wages for unpaid fines.

A Scottish Court Service spokesman also said a number of car owners with outstanding fines had their vehicles clamped until payments were made.