Almost £7 million sterling in court fines went unpaid in Northern Ireland last year, it emerged today.
With nearly a third of all magistrates' court fines not paid, a shocked MP demanded swift action by the authorities to recover the money.
North Down Ulster Unionist MP Lady Hermon said it was an unacceptable situation and called on Court Service to renew efforts to gather the money.
The total outstanding for magistrates' courts in 2005/06 was £6.89 million and £854,000 for Crown Courts.
There were 1,228 people locked up in Northern Ireland for non-payment of fines during the financial year ending last March- at a cost to the public purse of £85,935 per prisoner per year.
Lady Hermon said: "The figures disclosed by the government in response to my parliamentary questions raise very serious concerns.
"There are substantial sums outstanding in court fines, court costs and direct compensation to victims.
"The sums owed in magistrates courts are huge and, unlike those owed in Crown Court cases, they are on the rise."
Government figures show that 28 per cent of magistrates' court fines, costs and compensation orders have not been paid, while 45 per cent of Crown Court costs and fines were not paid.
The percentage of magistrates' court fines unpaid in 2003/04 was 23.
Department of Constitutional Affairs under-secretary Bridget Prentice told Lady Hermon that in some cases the defendant may have those cases successfully appealed or police may have been unable to issue a warrant. Some of the fines may be paid during this financial year.
Lady Hermon asked what the point was in imposing fines if they were not going to be paid.
"A fine is supposed to be a punishment, not a threat. These figures will in no way reassure the public that those who break the law and are prosecuted will think twice before breaking the law again."
A spokesman for Court Service said: "When imposing a fine the court will also specify the period within which the fine should be paid.
"Where a fine is not paid the court will issue a warrant for enforcement by the police. The individual who is subject to the fine must either pay the sum due or be taken into custody to serve the period of time in prison, determined by the court, in lieu of payment.