Letter: Jailed for fine and debt default

Alan Murdie
Thursday 09 May 1996 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Both the Independent and Alex Carlile MP should be congratulated for taking up the issue of the jailing of the poor and vulnerable for fine default, resulting in a Bill going before Parliament (8 May). But close attention must be paid to this Bill to ensure that it also covers those jailed for civil debts - particularly unpaid poll tax and council tax.

The record of magistrates' courts across England and Wales since 1990 - many cases having been featured in the Independent and on television - raises serious doubts as to whether magistrates should ever be allowed to lock up anyone for simple failure to pay a debt or fine. Probably not since the witch trials have so many elderly, disabled or vulnerable people been before the courts as has happened with the poll tax and its successor the council tax. But this situation will not be affected if the proposed Bill limits itself to criminal fines.

A person jailed for a civil debt actually has fewer rights than a convicted criminal imprisoned for defaulting on a fine of the same amount. A civil debtor is not entitled to legal aid. Senior figures in government have been aware of the unlawful jailing of civil debtors since the abolition of the poll tax in 1993, but the response has been nothing other than "buck passing" between the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department and Secretary of State for the Environment.

Alan Murdie

London SW15

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in