OFFENDERS in Worcestershire and Herefordshire who refuse to pay court fines will have their cars clamped or their goods seized, under a new Government crackdown.

Ministers are set to unveil tough new plans to stop tens of thousands of people escaping without paying any penalty for their convictions.

It follows a report by the National Audit Office which found that 38 per cent of fines imposed by magistrates in West Mercia were not paid last year.

Similar powers

Some 34 per cent of the fines handed down by magistrates had to be "written-off" as there was no hope of collecting the money.

Now proposals to be unveiled tomorrow are set to recommend the creation of a new group of officials with similar powers to bailiffs.

People could have their cars clamped or their belongings taken if they fail to pay fines for drunken brawls, criminal damage or lesser drug offences.

But Ministers will stress they are determined to separate those who "won't pay" from poorer people on benefits who simply "can't pay".

They are considering setting up "fines clinics" - similar to a scheme in operation in Australia - where non-payers can receive advice on how to pay.

And magistrates will be given new guidelines to stop them locking offenders into a spiral of debt by hitting them with one fine after another.

Discounts could be offered for speedy payment with fines rising rapidly for non-payment - copying the system used for parking offences.

To head off complaints that the new-style bailiffs could abuse their powers, offenders will be offered a right of appeal against any decision.

Tomorrow's White Paper is expected to pick out non-payment of fines as one of the biggest failings of the criminal justice system.

The NAO's report said offenders were able to avoid payment by giving the courts a false address, or by not passing on a change of address.