Law and Rights
The following tweet requires little by way of explanation. The relevant legislation may be seen via my earlier blogpost - Criminal Court Charges. The impact of this on the rate of guilty-pleas remains to be seen but it seems likely that some will opt to plead guilty rather than face this particular charge. Of course, if they do that, they will then often find themselves hit by a fine, costs and so-called "victim" surcharge. All of this is ample illustration of the parlous state of justice in this country today. The fact that the court has to impose the charge irrespective of means is disgraceful.
- A Case Of Begging ~ Criminal Court Charge ~ Speech By Lady Hale
Steffan Rowland Thomas - aged 19 - was seen by a PCSO sitting in the doorway of an empty shop in Swansea. He was asking passers-by for money. The matter came before Swansea Magistrates' Court where Thomas entered a guilty plea. The...
- Criminal Courts Charge
The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 section 54 introduced the Criminal Courts Charge. Section 54 came into force on 13th April 2015 and, on the same date, the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Criminal Courts Charge) Regulations 2015 came...
- Criminal Court Charges
On 13th April, the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Criminal Courts Charge) Regulations 2015 enter into force. They are well explained in this article in the Law Society Gazette 27th March. Suspects pleading not guilty in the Crown court will risk...
- Guilty Pleas ~ Sentence Reduction
The last day of the Michaelmas Law term 2012 was 21st December and no less than nine Court of Appeal (Civil Division) judgments and four Criminal Division judgments were handed down that day. These can all be seen on the Bailii website along with...
- Judges Critical Of Clarke's Proposals For Sentencing Reform
It is reported that the judges are critical of aspects of the sentencing proposals which have been put forward by Kenneth Clarke QC MP (the Secretary of State for Justice) in the green paper "Breaking the Cycle" - looked at on this blog last December. ...
Law and Rights
Criminal Court Charges - again !
Thousands of defendants will pay a surcharge of up to £1,200 from this week just for standing trial ? with the biggest penalties for those who plead not guilty but are then convicted. The measures, slipped through in the last days of parliament, mean that guilty defendants will pay a court fee ranging from £150 to £1,200 on top of any fines imposed.
From today Twitter it will cost you up to £1200 to plead Not Guilty in a Magistrates Court. A completely new regardless of your means tax.
? Darin Millar (@defencelawyer) April 14, 2015- A Case Of Begging ~ Criminal Court Charge ~ Speech By Lady Hale
Steffan Rowland Thomas - aged 19 - was seen by a PCSO sitting in the doorway of an empty shop in Swansea. He was asking passers-by for money. The matter came before Swansea Magistrates' Court where Thomas entered a guilty plea. The...
- Criminal Courts Charge
The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 section 54 introduced the Criminal Courts Charge. Section 54 came into force on 13th April 2015 and, on the same date, the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Criminal Courts Charge) Regulations 2015 came...
- Criminal Court Charges
On 13th April, the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Criminal Courts Charge) Regulations 2015 enter into force. They are well explained in this article in the Law Society Gazette 27th March. Suspects pleading not guilty in the Crown court will risk...
- Guilty Pleas ~ Sentence Reduction
The last day of the Michaelmas Law term 2012 was 21st December and no less than nine Court of Appeal (Civil Division) judgments and four Criminal Division judgments were handed down that day. These can all be seen on the Bailii website along with...
- Judges Critical Of Clarke's Proposals For Sentencing Reform
It is reported that the judges are critical of aspects of the sentencing proposals which have been put forward by Kenneth Clarke QC MP (the Secretary of State for Justice) in the green paper "Breaking the Cycle" - looked at on this blog last December. ...