PART XI

Sentencing

Fines

Fines: supervision pending payment.
217
1
Where an offender has been allowed time for payment of a fine, the court may, either on the occasion of the imposition of the fine or on a subsequent occasion, order that he be placed under the supervision of such person, in this section referred to as the “supervising officer”, as the court may from time to time appoint for the purpose of assisting and advising the offender in regard to payment of the fine.
2
An order made in pursuance of subsection (1) above shall remain in force so long as the offender to whom it relates remains liable to pay the fine or any part of it unless the order ceases to have effect or is discharged under subsection (3) below.
3
An order under this section shall cease to have effect on the making of a transfer of fine order under section 222 of this Act in respect of the fine or may be discharged by the court that made it without prejudice, in either case, to the making of a new order.
4
Where an offender under 21 years of age has been allowed time for payment of a fine, the court shall not order the form of detention appropriate to him in default of payment of the fine unless—
a
he has been placed under supervision in respect of the fine; or
b
the court is satisfied that it is impracticable to place him under supervision.
5
Where a court, on being satisfied as mentioned in subsection (4)(b) above, orders the detention of a person under 21 years of age without an order under this section having been made, the court shall state the grounds on which it is so satisfied.
6
Where an order under this section is in force in respect of an offender, the court shall not impose imprisonment in default of the payment of the fine unless before doing so it has—
a
taken such steps as may be reasonably practicable to obtain from the supervising officer a report, which may be oral, on the offender’s conduct and means, and has considered any such report; and
b
in a case where an enquiry is required by section 216 of this Act, considered such enquiry.
7
When a court appoints a different supervising officer under subsection (1) above, a notice shall be sent by the clerk of the court to the offender in such form, as nearly as may be, as is prescribed by Act of Adjournal.
8
The supervising officer shall communicate with the offender with a view to assisting and advising him in regard to payment of the fine, and unless the fine or any instalment thereof is paid to the clerk of the court within the time allowed by the court for payment, the supervising officer shall report to the court without delay after the expiry of such time, as to the conduct and means of the offender.
9
Where an enforcement order has been made under section 226B of this Act in relation to payment of the fine, the supervising officer shall, instead of reporting under subsection (8) above to the court, report under that subsection to the fines enforcement officer dealing with the order.
S. 217 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 43, ss. 14(2)(d), 50(2)
S. 217 applied (24.3.2003) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), ss. 118(1)(2)(d), 458; S.S.I. 2003/210, art.2 (with transitional provisions in arts 3-7)
S. 217(9) inserted (10.3.2008) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 20(2); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.