THOUSANDS of pounds in unpaid fines have been recovered in York and North Yorkshire under a national crackdown that has targeted more than 500 addresses.

Civilian enforcement officers acting on behalf of the magistrates courts claimed £2,107 in the York and Selby area alone earlier this week as part of Operation Payback.

In total 109 fine defaulters have been arrested across the county and 66 outstanding fines paid in full as a result of the drive to get tough on non-payers.

Fines adding up to more than £1.2 million are owed to the authorities in York and North Yorkshire, despite one of the best payment rates in the country of 90 per cent. Nationally, £354 million is owed.

Paul Bradley, chief executive of North Yorkshire Justices, said operations have also taken place in Scarborough, Harrogate, Skipton and Northallerton over the past two weeks.

He said: "We are doing everything we can to ensure that the money is paid and to make the public aware that fine defaulters will not get away with it.

"We take this issue very seriously and people who owe fines to the courts should make efforts to pay as soon as possible."

The authorities have a number of powers to claim fines from non-payers including the ability to deduct funds from wage packets and benefit payments.

Bailiffs can also seize valuable possessions in lieu of cash and persistent offenders face arrest and a possible prison sentence.

The Operation Payback campaign is being run by magistrates courts committees, independent bodies which operate magistrates courts.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York Police, said Thursday's operation in the central area of York and Selby, which involved ten uniformed officers and nine court staff, had been a "great success".

He said 39 arrests were made, 25 fines paid in full and 64 warrants were executed.

"It shows what the police can do when working with other agencies," he said.

Updated: 09:35 Saturday, April 03, 2004