COURTS in the North East and North Yorkshire have dramatically improved their collection of fines after new measures to tackle the scandal of non-payment.

Latest figures reveal that Cleveland, Durham and North Yorkshire all easily hit government targets to prevent offenders escaping without paying.

And, in recent months, both Cleveland and North Yorkshire have successfully chased up defaulters who have dodged penalties in previous years.

Two years ago, a damning report by the Commons public accounts committee warned that the payments of fines was "almost voluntary" in many areas.

Since then, magistrates courts have been given a range of new powers to catch up with defaulters, including the power to deduct fines from wages or benefits.

Fines are no longer be written off after 12 months and offenders who fail to provide details of income and expenditure are guilty of a fresh offence.

In 2003/4, Cleveland collected 91 per cent of fines levied, rising to 114 per cent in the first three months of the year as past fines were brought in.

Durham (90 and 93 per cent) and North Yorkshire (98 per cent and 138 per cent) also soared past the government target of 75 per cent.

North Yorkshire's was the best performance in the country in the last quarter - and almost three times better than the worst, which was Merseyside (51 per cent).

Under last year's Court Act, penalties can also be increased if offenders fail to pay up on time, while those who pay earlier can get reductions.

But offenders who are genuinely unable to pay the fine can be made to do unpaid work in the community as an alternative punishment.

The average proportion of fines collected in 2003/4 was 74 per cent, rising to 76 per cent in the first three months of this year.