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'Victim surcharge' not collected 'Victim surcharge' not collected
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of criminals in England and Wales are being let off paying money to help victims because a computer system cannot process many offenders' details.Thousands of criminals in England and Wales are being let off paying money to help victims because a computer system cannot process many offenders' details.
In 2004 ministers said all criminals would have to pay a £15 "victims' surcharge" towards victim services. All criminals should pay a £15 "victims' surcharge" towards services, but the system, launched in April, only recognises those who are fined.
But the system, launched on 1 April, only recognises those who are fined, so those jailed or given community sentences are not being asked to pay. Only £1.1m of the £16m target has been raised because those jailed or given community sentences are not charged.
The Magistrates' Association says it is unfair and wants the scheme suspended. Magistrates say it is unfair and that a new computer system cannot cope either.
We think this is unfair and it is inconsistent and it's not as if we weren't thinking about victims all along anyway Richard BristowMagistrate
Richard Bristow, who has been a magistrate for 20 years and chairs the bench at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in Hillingdon, west London, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme courts were "in the business of trying to be fair" but at the moment that the system was failing.
Currently, if a motorist committed a minor drink driving offence which incurred a fine, he would pay the surcharge, while a driver committing a more serious crime would not have to hand over the money, he said.
"We are just there to apply the law as Parliament has made it, but we think this is unfair and it is inconsistent and it's not as if we weren't thinking about victims all along anyway."
Victims' fundVictims' fund
But BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said: "It's now emerged the multi-million pound Libra computer system currently being rolled out to magistrates' courts won't be able to process that information either." He said a new multi-million pound Libra computer system currently being rolled out to magistrates' courts also cannot process the information needed for the surcharge.
It meant thousands of the most serious criminals would escape paying the surcharge, he added. "Everybody who works in the system has heard so many complaints about Libra. It's never done what it was supposed to do.
The surcharge, which is a fixed rate regardless of the size of the fine, is paid into a fund aimed at helping improve services for crime victims. "It was supposed to make all the administration of the courts much simpler and quicker and run smoother, but it's too complicated."
The surcharge, which is a fixed rate regardless of the size of a fine, is paid to help improve services for crime victims.
The Ministry of Justice said that by the end of October collections of the victims surcharge stood at £1,078,621.The Ministry of Justice said that by the end of October collections of the victims surcharge stood at £1,078,621.
Prior to the launch, the Home Office - which was responsible at the time - said it was part of a series of moves to "rebalance" the criminal justice system in favour of victims. The Magistrates' Association wants to see a new victims' fund set up, which would enable courts to hand over compensation immediately to victims and recover the cash from criminals at a later date.
Prior to the launch earlier this year, the Home Office - which was responsible at the time - said the surcharge was part of a series of moves to "rebalance" the criminal justice system in favour of victims.