Publisher's Synopsis
In this report we consider the effects on the criminal justice system which have arisen following the introduction of the criminal courts charge in April 2015. Given concerns expressed specifically about the charge in written evidence to our wider inquiry into a range of courts and tribunals fees and charges, we decided to produce an early and separate report on the charge. We acknowledge that so soon after the introduction of the charge there is a dearth of robust statistical evidence about its impact, but we consider that there is sufficient anecdotal and other evidence to enable conclusions to be drawn. We explain in this report the background to the introduction of the criminal courts charge and the issues of principle concerning the charge. We also examine the consequences arising from the mandatory nature of the charge: courts have no option but to impose it, and to impose it at a fixed amount depending on where the case is heard
