29 August 2007 - CSA gets tough on 62,000 parents who refuse to take responsibility for their children
The CSA has launched a campaign targeting 62,000 parents who collectively owe their children almost £200 million. The campaign has rolled out in Birmingham, Manchester, and Nottingham. Liverpool, Glasgow and Cardiff will follow next month.
The Child Support Agency (CSA) is already closing the net on those who refuse to pay. In the last year alone, 13,000 non-payers across Great Britain have had their cases passed on to bailiffs and/or been presented with a summons and taken to court, while 400 have received immediate or suspended prison sentences.
Child Maintenance Minister Lord McKenzie said:
“Across these six cities, 62,000 parents owe just under £200 million in child maintenance - money that their children deserve and have a right to. In many cases, this money would make a real difference to their child’s quality of life.
“Our enforcement team is more determined than ever to track down these parents and force them to support their children. Parents are given every opportunity to pay, but for those that refuse the CSA has a range of enforcement measures it can use, including deducting money straight from pay packets and taking non-payers to court. In extreme cases they could end up losing property or possessions.
“This campaign sends a strong and simple message to those who refuse to pay child maintenance throughout Great Britain: Your time is running out. Act now or we will.”
Taking enforcement action is only pursued once all other attempts to collect money have failed. But some non-resident parents will unfortunately go to extreme lengths to avoid paying child maintenance.
The campaign will raise awareness of the Agency’s powers via advertising on radio, billboards, and in local newspapers, as well as posters in washrooms, pubs and gyms. The ad creative focuses on the CSA’s enforcement powers and highlights the frequency which with the Agency uses these powers. For example, every day 37 non-paying parents have their cases passed onto bailiffs. Each advert carries the warning, “Your time is running out. Act now or we will”.
The campaign was initially piloted in Newcastle and Sheffield before being extended to Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham where it will run for five weeks from 28th August 2007. It will be rolled out across Liverpool, Glasgow and Cardiff from the 24th September 2007 for a further five weeks.
Notes to editors
- For further information about the CSA please visit www.csa.gov.uk
DWP National Press Office: Victoria Francis 020 3267 5137
DWP Regional Press Offices: West Midlands 0121 626 2088
East Midlands: 0115 989 5719
North West: 0161 874 4613
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk