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| Magistrate court fines 'may rise 300%' under new plans | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Maximum fines imposed by magistrates are set to rise dramatically under new proposals being put before Parliament. | |
| The top offence level, which includes motorway speeding, could increase from £2,500 to £10,000. | |
| Other affected cases could include speeding, driving without insurance or the sale of alcohol to a child. | |
| Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said financial penalties "set at the right level" were an effective punishment for offenders. | |
| "Magistrates are the cornerstone of our justice system and these changes will provide them with greater powers to deal with the day-to-day offences that impact their local communities," he added. | "Magistrates are the cornerstone of our justice system and these changes will provide them with greater powers to deal with the day-to-day offences that impact their local communities," he added. |
| His proposals could also see magistrates having unlimited fine powers for offences where there is currently a maximum of £5,000 or more. | His proposals could also see magistrates having unlimited fine powers for offences where there is currently a maximum of £5,000 or more. |
| Any new legislation would first have to be debated in Parliament but there is no current timetable for any such discussion. | Any new legislation would first have to be debated in Parliament but there is no current timetable for any such discussion. |
| Custody 'option remains' | |
| Most offences that could involve a fine in magistrates' courts are subject to specific maximums, known as levels, which currently range from £200 to £5,000. | Most offences that could involve a fine in magistrates' courts are subject to specific maximums, known as levels, which currently range from £200 to £5,000. |
| Some cases, such as environmental offences, can involve even higher fines. | Some cases, such as environmental offences, can involve even higher fines. |
| Magistrates take into account the seriousness of the offence when setting the fine level. | Magistrates take into account the seriousness of the offence when setting the fine level. |
| The Ministry of Justice said custody would "continue to be used for serious offenders and fines will not become an alternative for those who would otherwise be sent to custody". | The Ministry of Justice said custody would "continue to be used for serious offenders and fines will not become an alternative for those who would otherwise be sent to custody". |
| The proposed changes would see: | The proposed changes would see: |
| • The Level 1 fine maximum increase from £200 to £800. Offences which may be dealt with by a Level 1 fine include unauthorised cycle racing on public ways | • The Level 1 fine maximum increase from £200 to £800. Offences which may be dealt with by a Level 1 fine include unauthorised cycle racing on public ways |
| • Level 2 increases from £500 to £2,000. Offences include driving a motor cycle without a protective helmet | • Level 2 increases from £500 to £2,000. Offences include driving a motor cycle without a protective helmet |
| • Level 3 increases from £1,000 to £4,000. Offences include the sale of alcohol to a drunk person or being drunk and disorderly in a public place | • Level 3 increases from £1,000 to £4,000. Offences include the sale of alcohol to a drunk person or being drunk and disorderly in a public place |
| • Level 4 increases from £2,500 to £10,000. Offences include speeding on the motorway | • Level 4 increases from £2,500 to £10,000. Offences include speeding on the motorway |
| Magistrate fines collected at the end of 2012/13 reached a record high of £284m and continued to rise during the last financial year, the Ministry of Justice added. | Magistrate fines collected at the end of 2012/13 reached a record high of £284m and continued to rise during the last financial year, the Ministry of Justice added. |
| The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 allowed magistrates the power to impose unlimited fines for certain offences. | The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 allowed magistrates the power to impose unlimited fines for certain offences. |
| However, the government is only now tabling the appropriate legislation to put that ruling into effect. | However, the government is only now tabling the appropriate legislation to put that ruling into effect. |