7th January 2016
With effect from 24th December 2015 the Criminal Court Charge, introduced by the government for all criminal offences committed after 13 April 2015, has been abolished. Any offences committed after 24 December 2015 will no longer attract the compulsory charge. However, the abolition is not retrospective and so will continue to apply to offences committed and charged between those dates; which seems incredibly unjust for those offenders caught by the charge.
The charge attracted widespread criticism from many sources since it was proposed by Chris Grayling, the then Lord Chancellor, including many high ranking magistrates, a number of whom resigned in protest at having to impose it in all cases with no discretion to waive the charge for defendants who simply could not afford to pay it.
Michael Gove, the current Lord Chancellor, has bowed to pressure from the Magistrates Court Association and other human rights lobbyists by announcing the abolition of the charge at the beginning of December.
It remains to be seen what stance magistrates take in dealing with old cases falling between April and December, and whether they will have the moral strength to stand up to the government and refuse to impose the charge in those cases yet to be heard in Court.
For advice about how the charge may affect you, driving offences or criminal assaults please contact David Williams of Jordan Williams for a free initial consultation on 07793 055104 or david@jwlaw.co.uk
I am situated in Ferndown, but I am happy to see clients in Poole, Bournemouth, Wimborne and the surrounding and areas. Please see my Services page to see what sort offences can be defended.