Episode details
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John Waite investigates the story behind the missing billions of unpaid fines, fees, compensation orders and confiscation orders. Recent reports by the National Audit Office and the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee put the amount outstanding at almost £2 billion. The Ministry of Justice is cutting services by approximately the same amount. It's already shut 129 of 142 courts due for closure. The Legal Aid fund will be cut by £450 million. Overall the Ministry of Justice will be looking to save over £2 billion of its £10 billion budget. So who is not paying their fines and are criminals getting off scot-free? Is the money simply uncollected - or uncollectable? John Waite speaks to magistrates, criminals, victims of crime and key players in the legal system. He visits a Magistrates Court and joins police on a raid.
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