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Magistrates’ Courts “in crisis” over Criminal Court Charge (17 August 2015)

Date: 17/08/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Magistrates’ Courts “in crisis” over Criminal Court Charge

Magistrates are warning that the Criminal Court Charge introduced by the Ministry of Justice earlier this year has resulted in the resignation of 30 magistrates in the last few weeks.

The growing crisis in Magistrates’ Courts across England and Wales is being blamed on the fact that judges and magistrates have not been given any discretionary powers in imposing the charge – introduced to ensure that convicted offenders pay towards the cost of courts fees.

The charge applies to adult offenders only – but some magistrates say that many of those convicted of crimes in Magistrates’ Courts are too poor to be able to afford the charge.

Sky News reports that more judges and magistrates will resign unless the government allows some discretion in imposing the Criminal Court Charge.

Former Blackpool magistrate Bob Hutchinson said:

“When they imposed this criminal court charge that was mandatory in April of this year, that was the last straw for me – and I felt that I couldn't make a difference any more and I decided that I had to go.

“The new charges mean anyone who pleads guilty to an offence at a Magistrates Court has to pay a proportion of the court's costs, around £150.

“If they are found guilty after trial, that charge increases to £520. If it goes to Crown Court, a guilty offender can expect to be charged up to £1,200 on top of any fine, compensation and other related charges.

“In this court in Blackpool, 85% of offenders are on benefits and they have limited means.”

Mr Hutchinson was a magistrate in Blackpool for 11 years before he resigned.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said:

“It is right that convicted adult offenders who use our criminal courts should pay towards the cost of running them.
“The introduction of this charge makes it possible to recover some of the costs of the criminal courts from these offenders, therefore reducing the burden on taxpayers.”

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