CPS Why Bother?
Author
Discussion

hemibum

Original Poster:

833 posts

248 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
My car was broken into in London over a year ago. Sat Nav stolen. Perp picked up same day and charged.

Had to travel to London for court as witness. CPS (eventually) paid my expenses. Was awarded £500.00 compensation from perp. to cover damage to my car. True figure higher than that.

Comp to be paid at £10.00 per week. Not had a penny.

Have CPS contacted me to let me know that since perp has'nt paid anything that he now defaults to some more serious community order or whatever? No. not a bloody peep from them.

Is this the usual (lack of) response from CPS? Yeah, go on, tell me I should contact them to find out what the story is. Why should I have to. I expect CPS to fulfill their duty as a prosecution service by ensuring that whatever compensation is imposed on their behalf is actually being exacted and duly forwarded to the "victim", or is this expecting too much?

The funny thing is that I'd already decided that if ~I saw the guy making an effort and making a few payments, I was prepared to contact CPS to see if he could be let off the hook for the remainder, hopefully signalling some kind of recognition of atonement. Now, I just feel like a fool, shafted by the Crim & the CPS.

Edited: Sorry, never noticed the other CPS rant.



Edited by hemibum on Sunday 6th January 22:08

Bing o

15,184 posts

250 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
hemibum said:
My car was broken into in London over a year ago. Sat Nav stolen. Perp picked up same day and charged.

Had to travel to London for court as witness. CPS (eventually) paid my expenses. Was awarded £500.00 compensation from perp. to cover damage to my car. True figure higher than that.

Comp to be paid at £10.00 per week. Not had a penny.

Have CPS contacted me to let me know that since perp has'nt paid anything that he now defaults to some more serious community order or whatever? No. not a bloody peep from them.

Is this the usual (lack of) response from CPS? Yeah, go on, tell me I should contact them to find out what the story is. Why should I have to. I expect CPS to fulfill their duty as a prosecution service by ensuring that whatever compensation is imposed on their behalf is actually being exacted and duly forwarded to the "victim", or is this expecting too much?

The funny thing is that I'd already decided that if ~I saw the guy making an effort and making a few payments, I was prepared to contact CPS to see if he could be let off the hook for the remainder, hopefully signalling some kind of recognition of atonement. Now, I just feel like a fool, shafted by the Crim & the CPS.
Screw you, it's all about his ooman rights innit?

Seriously though, it would be better if the comp came out of the CPS budget and they had to recoup it. See how efficient the polyester suited ones get then...

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
He doesn't pay the compensation to the CPS it goes to the court. Their fines are paid before your compensation is.

JustinP1

13,364 posts

261 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
I completely agree with your sentiments.

God forbid that you might drive through a mobile 'safety' speed trap, or indeed not agree with the 'evidence' of your offence.

It will be the same CPS that throw the book at you and the system will chase you down. When I was in court, protesting my innocence, and it was found that I was guilty and had to pick up a £200 fine and £300 costs for speeding, despite there being no reason to expect my default whatsoever, I was told that if I didn't pay on time there would be a warrant put out for my arrest!

Whilst I am sure that Von or others can perhaps pick holes or correct some factor here, the main overiding issue is that today, the system is such that the dregs which damage our society seem to be getting off quite lightly - whilst the decent (previously uncriminal) and honest taxpayer is taken to the cleaners.

FishFace

3,790 posts

239 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
Don't go over the speed limit if you don't want the risk of fines / Court.


I'm not 100% sure it's the CPS'S job. I suspect it's the Court's. Not sure who it ultimately comes down to though.

wackydo

137 posts

291 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
FishFace said:
Don't go over the speed limit if you don't want the risk of fines / Court.


I'm not 100% sure it's the CPS'S job. I suspect it's the Court's. Not sure who it ultimately comes down to though.
But you miss the point FishFace.

98% of speeding offences are victimless crimes where no-one was hurt, no damage, no-injury, but it seems that failure to pay these fines is a much more serious issue and persued much more relentlessly than situations were 'real' criminals (ie hurt/damage/injury caused) fail to pay, in a similar situation to that outlined above.

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
wackydo said:
FishFace said:
Don't go over the speed limit if you don't want the risk of fines / Court.


I'm not 100% sure it's the CPS'S job. I suspect it's the Court's. Not sure who it ultimately comes down to though.
But you miss the point FishFace.

98% of speeding offences are victimless crimes where no-one was hurt, no damage, no-injury, but it seems that failure to pay these fines is a much more serious issue and persued much more relentlessly than situations were 'real' criminals (ie hurt/damage/injury caused) fail to pay, in a similar situation to that outlined above.
Anyone who doesn't pay a fine risks a visit from court bailiffs. Now that's not likely to worry you much if you don't own anything of value, but that means you run the risk of prison if you still don't pay.
Courts are loathed to put people in prison for non payment of fines, but if you persist it is likely to end up that way at some point.

Bing o

15,184 posts

250 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
wackydo said:
FishFace said:
Don't go over the speed limit if you don't want the risk of fines / Court.


I'm not 100% sure it's the CPS'S job. I suspect it's the Court's. Not sure who it ultimately comes down to though.
But you miss the point FishFace.

98% of speeding offences are victimless crimes where no-one was hurt, no damage, no-injury, but it seems that failure to pay these fines is a much more serious issue and persued much more relentlessly than situations were 'real' criminals (ie hurt/damage/injury caused) fail to pay, in a similar situation to that outlined above.
Anyone who doesn't pay a fine risks a visit from court bailiffs. Now that's not likely to worry you much if you don't own anything of value, but that means you run the risk of prison if you still don't pay.
Courts are loathed to put people in prison for non payment of fines, but if you persist it is likely to end up that way at some point.
So yet again the hard working people are more accountable than J T Scrote...

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
Bing o said:
vonhosen said:
wackydo said:
FishFace said:
Don't go over the speed limit if you don't want the risk of fines / Court.


I'm not 100% sure it's the CPS'S job. I suspect it's the Court's. Not sure who it ultimately comes down to though.
But you miss the point FishFace.

98% of speeding offences are victimless crimes where no-one was hurt, no damage, no-injury, but it seems that failure to pay these fines is a much more serious issue and persued much more relentlessly than situations were 'real' criminals (ie hurt/damage/injury caused) fail to pay, in a similar situation to that outlined above.
Anyone who doesn't pay a fine risks a visit from court bailiffs. Now that's not likely to worry you much if you don't own anything of value, but that means you run the risk of prison if you still don't pay.
Courts are loathed to put people in prison for non payment of fines, but if you persist it is likely to end up that way at some point.
So yet again the hard working people are more accountable than J T Scrote...
They risk prison, you don't.

Bing o

15,184 posts

250 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
Bing o said:
vonhosen said:
wackydo said:
FishFace said:
Don't go over the speed limit if you don't want the risk of fines / Court.


I'm not 100% sure it's the CPS'S job. I suspect it's the Court's. Not sure who it ultimately comes down to though.
But you miss the point FishFace.

98% of speeding offences are victimless crimes where no-one was hurt, no damage, no-injury, but it seems that failure to pay these fines is a much more serious issue and persued much more relentlessly than situations were 'real' criminals (ie hurt/damage/injury caused) fail to pay, in a similar situation to that outlined above.
Anyone who doesn't pay a fine risks a visit from court bailiffs. Now that's not likely to worry you much if you don't own anything of value, but that means you run the risk of prison if you still don't pay.
Courts are loathed to put people in prison for non payment of fines, but if you persist it is likely to end up that way at some point.
So yet again the hard working people are more accountable than J T Scrote...
They risk prison, you don't.
I risk losing my plasma screen taht I paid for, they risk losing the plasma screen that they stole from someone else...

FishFace

3,790 posts

239 months

Sunday 6th January 2008
quotequote all
wackydo said:
FishFace said:
Don't go over the speed limit if you don't want the risk of fines / Court.


I'm not 100% sure it's the CPS'S job. I suspect it's the Court's. Not sure who it ultimately comes down to though.
But you miss the point FishFace.

98% of speeding offences are victimless crimes where no-one was hurt, no damage, no-injury, but it seems that failure to pay these fines is a much more serious issue and persued much more relentlessly than situations were 'real' criminals (ie hurt/damage/injury caused) fail to pay, in a similar situation to that outlined above.
I'm not comparing the severity of speeding to crime.

Regardless of what it seems like, non-payment of fines are pursued the same using the same legislation and methods of that legislation. It may seem as such because more methods of getting the fines are more likely to be open to the Courts with someone who speeds (read employed). For example, the obligation to have a fine taken from the employed's wages is an option not open for the unemployed drug addict.

Don't want to get fined? Don't speed. Or like me don't get caught.

Quinny said:
FishFace said:
Don't go over the speed limit if you don't want the risk of fines / Court.
Hurrayyyy, what an enlightening quote.

So there you have it in one swift statement. Now why didn't I think of thatrolleyes
I'll have to be forgiven as the obvious lack of enlightenment of most people on this board regarding law / procedure rubs off to that obvious solution.

fluffnik

20,156 posts

258 months

Monday 7th January 2008
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
He doesn't pay the compensation to the CPS it goes to the court. Their fines are paid before your compensation is.
And that serves justice how?

Thieves and vandals should be liable for the full value of the property they deprive its owners of and should forfeit all their property to pay if need be - all they need is an orange jumpsuit, a plastic plate and spoon and a blanket...

fluffnik

20,156 posts

258 months

Monday 7th January 2008
quotequote all
FishFace said:
Don't want to get fined? Don't speed. Or like me don't get caught.
Better yet, sack your oppressors.

SLCZ3

1,295 posts

236 months

Monday 7th January 2008
quotequote all
As is apparant from the preceding posts the CPS has no involvement with the collection/payment of fines and compensation, that is the courtys job, generally the offender will pay the fines, which are usually the smallest item on the list and so then are clear of any furtehr action by that court.
If the offender does not pay the compensation, the person claiming has to go to court to obtain further orders for action by bailiffs e.t.c. and or a change in payment order or other action such as a lien on their property. A lien on their property prevents them from being paid the full amount for the sale of their property, ubtil the amount they owe is paid out.
A very useful situation when it comes time for people to sell their house, and this is a continuing order until the amount is paid, including interest at a rate determined by the magistrate.
I have two of these judgments against two offenders ( both uninsured drivers )
who have consistently failed to pay the fines, and so liens were taken against the property they were joints owners of.
It is very interesting the view of the person who is joint owner of the property, as they cannot pull out from the ownership of the house either until the comp is paid, one guy does not realise it, but what was an original debt of 1000 GBP has now progressed over the past ten years to a substantial amount now, compound interest, and tax free!!!

Mg6b

6,649 posts

294 months

Monday 7th January 2008
quotequote all
6 years ago, I caught a person involved in a ram raid, who decided to ram raid my face. He did not get away but the court decided to award me £200 as compensation against the offender for his assault which for me included a black eye and broken nose.

6 years late I have had not one penny and three letters from the court asking me to write the compensation off because they cannot or will not deal with it.

Aparrently the last I heard about 18 months ago was that he offender was a in a drugs rehab process at Dartmoor Prison.

I know he spends more than £200 a day on Crack Cocaine when he is back on the streets. Ironic really isn't it???? frown

Edited by Mg6b on Monday 7th January 10:16

oldsoak

5,618 posts

233 months

Monday 7th January 2008
quotequote all
Mg6b said:
6 years ago, I caught a person involved in a ram raid, who decided to ram raid my face. He did not get away but the court decided to award me £200 as compensation against the offender for his assault which for me included a black eye and broken nose.

6 years late I have had not one penny and three letters from the court asking me to write the compensation off because they cannot or will not deal with it.

Aparrently the last I heard about 18 months ago was that he offender was a in a drugs rehab process at Dartmoor Prison.

I know he spends more than £200 a day on Crack Cocaine when he is back on the streets. Ironic really isn't it???? frown

Edited by Mg6b on Monday 7th January 10:16
It's enough to make you lose all confidence in the judicial system (not that too much of that exists anyway). IMPO scrotes tagged with a compo order should have an attachment to earnings or their dole/social security stopped until the awarded amounts are paid in full.
It is no deterrent to award compo and then let them off without them having to pay it.

streaky

19,311 posts

280 months

Monday 7th January 2008
quotequote all
vonhosen][ ... said:
Courts are loathed to put people in prison for non payment of fines, ...
Brilliant Freudian Slip, there, von - Streaky

Bing o

15,184 posts

250 months

Monday 7th January 2008
quotequote all
I have a solution - crim won't pay their fine, then they work for it.

Option 1 is to be strapped into a set of stocks in the town centre wearing a pink leotard. Passers by can pay £1 per rotten vegetable that they throw at the crim. This is continued until the fine is paid, and all the proceeds are handed to the victim.

IF this level is not reached, then we can put them to work on the chaingangs, so at leats if the individual does not benefit, society does from effectively free labour...


EU_Foreigner

2,838 posts

257 months

Monday 7th January 2008
quotequote all
Sorry - read that as "free from Labour" smile