UK: Criminal courts charge 'should be axed' - justice committee

Criminal courts charge 'should be axed' - justice committee

LONDON: -- The criminal courts charge should be scrapped by ministers, a parliamentary committee has said, as it raised "grave misgivings" about the fee's benefits.

Since April, convicted criminals in England and Wales have had to pay a charge of between £150 and £1,200 towards the cost of their case.

MPs on the justice select committee said the charge, which is not means-tested, created "serious problems" and was often "grossly disproportionate".

Ministers said it was under review.

The fee is paid on top of fines, compensation orders and defendants' own legal charges, and is higher for those convicted after pleading not guilty.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34870242


-- BBC 2015-11-20