MORE offenders are being dealt with and more fines paid than ever before, according to latest Government figures.

In excess of 89 per cent of all court fines issued in Greater Manchester are being paid - five per cent above the national average. This time last year only 72 per cent of all fines issued by the courts were collected.

In addition to the drive on fine repayments, the 13 magistrates and crown courts in Greater Manchester have beaten their target to reduce ineffective trials.

Between January and March this year only 13.5 per cent of all cases heard in the crown courts and 16 per cent of cases heard in the magistrates courts were ineffective.

In 2002 over a quarter of all crown court cases and nearly 28 per cent of all magistrates court cases were ineffective.

Overall, the number of offences that have been brought to justice in Greater Manchester in 2005/06 has increased to 76,960.