Date released to the requester: 24 November 2006
Date published on website: 24 November 2006
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Information released:
On conviction in the magistrates' courts, a person can receive a financial penalty which is payable to the magistrates court.
When a person does not pay the financial penalty, a distress warrant may be sent to an approved private enforcement company [also known as bailiffs] to deal with. If this happens, the person who must pay the fine will also have to pay additional fees to the private enforcement company.
The information we have released is a list of fees charged for distress warrants by the three private enforcement companies who have been approved to enforce magistrates' court warrants, on behalf of Her Majesty's Court Service.
The list covers seven regional contracts, which were let to three companies after a competitive tender process. The contracts are due to expire in March 2008 with the option to extend for a further year. The companies are: