Fine defaulters on benefits could lose £25pw

People who fail to pay their fine after they have been convicted for criminal behaviour could lose up to £25 a week in benefits, the government has said.

PM David Cameron said the measure was being introduced as a deterrent, adding that the current system was "too soft". At the moment, people who fail to pay a fine on time can have £5 a week deducted from their benefit payments. The increase will start in 2013 when the Universal Credit comes into force.

IDS said:

I do not want to be in the business of leaving people without any money to support themselves but, equally, individuals must know that they cannot commit crime that impacts on the livelihoods and the communities of hard-working people without consequences.

Of the 1,350 people who appeared in court for their part in the unrest that hit the streets of England in August, 40% were claiming a state benefit of some kind, according to official figures.

And 35% - 500 - were claiming an out-of-work benefit, compared with 12% of the general working population in England.

In all, 100 people were found to be claiming disability living allowance and 60 had been claiming incapacity benefit. Some may have been claiming both.