Thousands of criminals are "working" the system by failing to pay fines imposed by Scottish courts, according to the Tories.

The party said that millions of pounds are being lost because offenders have no intention of paying up.

Now the Tories are calling for more realistic sanctions to be imposed by the courts.

More realistic sanctions are being demanded

Strathclyde Police said there are 26,000 outstanding warrants for offenders who have not paid their fines.

In theory those who fail to pay up could be brought back to court and sent to jail.

The money owed amounts to millions of pounds - and the Tories say it is a farce.

Deputy home affairs spokesman Bill Aitken believes the criminals are sticking up "two fingers" to the judicial system because they know they can get away with it.

He is demanding that the money should be collected as a matter of urgency.

List seats

The Conservatives are suggesting that the fines could be deducted from salaries and benefits.

Grassroots Tories were due to meet on Tuesday to decide whether or not to press ahead with demands to reform the party's candidate selection procedures.

A split has emerged over how candidates are ranked for the regional list seats.

Most MSPs want a one member one vote postal ballot, but the party executive backs local hustings.

Block votes

It is understood that a compromise has been put forward which would allow voting by proxy at local hustings meetings.

But some senior Tories are furious and argue that such a move would be akin to the labour union block votes of the past.

Members of the North Tayside Constituency Association was due to meet on Tuesday to consider the idea and to decide whether or not to withdraw a demand for change.