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| 'Victim surcharge' not collected | 'Victim surcharge' not collected |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| All criminals should pay a £15 "victims' surcharge" towards services, but the system, launched in April, only recognises those who are fined. | All criminals should pay a £15 "victims' surcharge" towards services, but the system, launched in April, only recognises those who are fined. |
| Only £1.1m of the £16m target has been raised because those jailed or given community sentences are not charged. | Only £1.1m of the £16m target has been raised because those jailed or given community sentences are not charged. |
| Magistrates say it is unfair and that a new computer system cannot cope either. | Magistrates say it is unfair and that a new computer system cannot cope either. |
| 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 the system was failing. | |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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." | "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." |
| He said a new multi-million pound computer system, called Libra, currently being rolled out to magistrates' courts also could not process the information needed for the surcharge. | |
| "Everybody who works in the system has heard so many complaints about Libra. It's never done what it was supposed to do. | "Everybody who works in the system has heard so many complaints about Libra. It's never done what it was supposed to do. |
| "It was supposed to make all the administration of the courts much simpler and quicker and run smoother, but it's too complicated." | "It was supposed to make all the administration of the courts much simpler and quicker and run smoother, but it's too complicated." |
| Victims' fund | Victims' fund |
| 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. |
| The levy, which is payable by all offenders on top of fines levied by the courts, goes into a victims' fund, which supports a wide range of services for victims and witnesses. | The levy, which is payable by all offenders on top of fines levied by the courts, goes into a victims' fund, which supports a wide range of services for victims and witnesses. |
| Introduced as part of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, it works in conjunction with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, which pays compensation to the victims of violent crime. | Introduced as part of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, it works in conjunction with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, which pays compensation to the victims of violent crime. |
| However, the Magistrates' Association wants to see a new type of 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. | However, the Magistrates' Association wants to see a new type of 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. | 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. |