It is a statute of limitations which provides timescales within which action may be taken (by issuing a claim form) for breaches of the law.

[5] Where there has been fraud or concealment, or the action is for relief from the consequences of a mistake, time will not run until the fraud, concealment or mistake is discovered or could with reasonable diligence be discovered.

[6] In September 2016 His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) set up the "Historic Debt Project" to tackle long outstanding unpaid criminal fines and financial orders, from debtors who previously were difficult to trace, with the use of new intelligence and tracing tools.

Outstanding debts of 10 years and longer are pursued by a dedicated team in the HMCTS National Compliance and Enforcement Service.

Magistrates' Court fines, being a criminal matter, are not subject to the Limitation Act 1980 (neither can they be included in bankruptcy, an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) or a debt relief order DRO).