This petition was submitted during the 2015-2017 parliament

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Petition Require the Lord Chancellor to review the courts charge now, not in 3 years.

An immediate review is needed of the law requiring a criminal courts charge to be imposed on offenders irrespective of means to pay. Lack of confidence in the legislation is widespread and is leading to judicial resignations. The review must fully involve the public, practitioners and judiciary.

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S.55 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 requires the Lord Chancellor to carry out a review of the operation of the criminal courts charge 3 years after it came into force so that no review will occur until 13 April 2018. Amending s.55 will permit the Lord Chancellor to carry out that review now, avoiding the problems identified in the attached blog (https://www.kingsleynapley.co.uk/news-and-events/blogs/criminal-law-blog/a-compassionate-magistrate-and-a-lamentable-government).

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House of Commons Justice Committee report on courts and tribunals fees and charges

You recently signed a petition on the UK Government and Parliament Petitions website:

Require the Lord Chancellor to review the courts charge now, not in 3 years

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/110048

The House of Commons Justice Committee published a report on courts and tribunals fees and charges in November 2015.

You can read its report here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmjust/586/586.pdf

You can read the Government's response here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmjust/667/667.pdf

In summary, the Government decided not to impose the criminal courts charge. Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Justice, announced a review into court ordered financial charges for offenders more generally (e.g. the victims surcharge).

The Government also tabled a measure to stop the imposing of charges, which came into force on 24 December.

You can follow the Justice Committee on Twitter: CommonsJustice