‘Why has the government decided to abolish the Criminal Courts Charge? Shula de Jersey, Principal Lawyer at Slater and Gordon (UK) LLP, explores the controversial measure and explains the events that led to its abolition.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th December 2015
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘The courts take money from offenders in a number of ways, including fines, the victim surcharge, compensation orders, prosecution costs and the Criminal Courts Charge. This array of penalties, fines and charges is complex and confusing. I have therefore asked my department to review the entire structure, and purpose, of court-ordered financial impositions for offenders, in order to bring greater simplicity and clarity to the system.’
Ministry of Justice, 3rd December 2015
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
‘The criminal courts charge is to be scrapped, Justice Secretary Michael Gove has announced.’
BBC News, 3rd December 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The criminal courts charge should be scrapped by ministers, a parliamentary committee has said, as it raised “grave misgivings” about the fee’s benefits.’
BBC News, 20th November 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Criminal court charges create perverse incentives for the innocent to plead guilty, warns Bar Council chairman Alistair MacDonald QC, ahead of today’s parliamentary debate. He also points out that we still do not know if the Government is on track to raise £265 million it proposed to bring in over the course of this Parliament.’
The Bar Council, 17th November 2015
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
‘Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd says better treatment of victims by criminal justice system encouraging more people to report sexual assaults.’
The Guardian, 17th November 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Michael Gove has given his broadest hint so far that he is seeking to ditch the highly unpopular criminal courts charge and could give magistrates and judges discretion over its enforcement.’
The Guardian, 3rd November 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘A rape victim did not get compensation from her attacker because of the Government’s controversial new court charge, MPs have been told.’
The Independent, 27th October 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The Government’s controversial courts charge is causing major delays and leaving victims waiting for justice, a former Solicitor General has said.’
The Independent, 21st October 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The deputy president of the supreme court, Lady Hale, has become the latest judge to question whether the newly imposed criminal courts charge encourages defendants to plead guilty.’
The Guardian, 20th October 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘A magistrate who resigned in disgust at criminal courts charges being imposed on defendants who plead or are found guilty has told the Guardian the fine “disproportionately punishes the poorest in our community”.’
The Guardian, 16th October 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Any person over the age of 18 who is convicted of a criminal offence after 15 April 2015 will find that they have to pay “relevant court costs” (or criminal courts charge) in addition to a number of other payments.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 14th October 2015
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘Defendants accused of a crime they have not committed will be incentivised to plead guilty to avoid new court charges in criminal cases, warns the Bar Council ahead of a debate in the House of Lords.’
The Bar Council, 13th October 2015
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
‘The imposition of mandatory, punitive fines in English and Welsh criminal courts has undermined respect for the law and introduced US-style plea bargaining that results in false convictions, an influential legal thinktank has warned.’
The Guardian, 30th September 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘The outcry over the new financial penalties for anyone convicted of a crime presents Michael Gove with a crucial test of his willingness to jettison flawed policies inherited from Chris Grayling, his predecessor as Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor.’
The Independent, 11th September 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Compensation payments to victims of crime are being affected by a new charge imposed on criminals.’
BBC News, 28th August 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Poverty-stricken people are being encouraged to plead guilty to crimes they did not commit out of fear they will face crippling costs imposed by new financial penalties, leading lawyers, magistrates and campaigners have warned.’
The Independent, 21st August 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Victims of crime are missing out on compensation because courts are forced to make criminals pay costs to the Government, campaigners have warned.’
The Independent, 23rd August 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
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