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Criminals jailed by magistrates to pay victim surcharge | Criminals jailed by magistrates to pay victim surcharge |
(35 minutes later) | |
Criminals jailed by magistrates' courts in England and Wales will no longer be excused from victim surcharge payments by serving extra prison time. | Criminals jailed by magistrates' courts in England and Wales will no longer be excused from victim surcharge payments by serving extra prison time. |
Courts can currently give extra days in jail instead of making offenders pay the money, which goes to help victims. | Courts can currently give extra days in jail instead of making offenders pay the money, which goes to help victims. |
But from 1 September this will no longer be allowed - a change the government says will raise "up to £1.5 million more per year" for victims. | But from 1 September this will no longer be allowed - a change the government says will raise "up to £1.5 million more per year" for victims. |
The charity Victim Support said the surcharges must be "robustly enforced". | The charity Victim Support said the surcharges must be "robustly enforced". |
The victim surcharge is payable by people sentenced for criminal offences, and the money raised funds a variety of services for victims of crime. It was introduced in 2007 and the government says it has raised £51m since 2010. | The victim surcharge is payable by people sentenced for criminal offences, and the money raised funds a variety of services for victims of crime. It was introduced in 2007 and the government says it has raised £51m since 2010. |
The latest change, brought in under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, means magistrates jailing someone for an offence cannot give them an additional prison sentence as a "default" for not paying the surcharge. | The latest change, brought in under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, means magistrates jailing someone for an offence cannot give them an additional prison sentence as a "default" for not paying the surcharge. |
'Groundbreaking' help | 'Groundbreaking' help |
"It is only right that offenders should pay both for their crimes and to help repair the damage they have done," said victims' minister Mike Penning. | "It is only right that offenders should pay both for their crimes and to help repair the damage they have done," said victims' minister Mike Penning. |
"The money being raised through the surcharge is already being put to use in some groundbreaking ways to help people move on with their lives as much as possible." | "The money being raised through the surcharge is already being put to use in some groundbreaking ways to help people move on with their lives as much as possible." |
People jailed by magistrates' courts will have to pay £80 if their sentence is less than six months, and people jailed for up to 12 months will pay £100. | People jailed by magistrates' courts will have to pay £80 if their sentence is less than six months, and people jailed for up to 12 months will pay £100. |
It is expected it will apply to 43,000 cases per year, the Ministry of Justice said. | It is expected it will apply to 43,000 cases per year, the Ministry of Justice said. |
Adam Pemberton, assistant chief executive of Victim Support, said the surcharge "forces offenders to put something back into society". | Adam Pemberton, assistant chief executive of Victim Support, said the surcharge "forces offenders to put something back into society". |
"An extension to the scheme will mean a lot more offenders are making that contribution," he said. | "An extension to the scheme will mean a lot more offenders are making that contribution," he said. |
'Real difference' | |
"But this only works if, along with court fines and compensation orders... payments are robustly enforced." | "But this only works if, along with court fines and compensation orders... payments are robustly enforced." |
Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove said offenders "should pay for the pain they inflict on victims". | |
She added: "I am pleased the government has recognised this by extending the surcharge to give more victims the support they deserve. | |
"But around £12m has still not been collected - this is not good enough. I want to see more of this money recovered - so it can make a real difference to those who have suffered from crime and improve the services they receive." |
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