The period that persons spend in prison for non-payment can, in some cases, be as little as two days. When one bears in mind the fact that the custodial alternative to a £200 fine is seven days in prison, which is reduced on remission to three days, which can result in the prisoner being released after two days—given the administrative arrangements in prisons—it is hardly surprising that many people do not see the necessity to part with money rather than serve the custodial alternative.