This is a charge that applies to all adult offenders dealt with for offences committed on or after 13 April 2015 except where the offender is sentenced to an absolute discharge or a hospital or guardianship order. It is separate from other financial orders that the court may make such as compensation, a fine or prosecution costs. In addition to the Victim Surcharge the court must order the charge set out in the table below:
Conviction by a magistrates’ court in proceedings conducted in accordance with section 16A of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (trial by single justice on the papers) | £150 |
Conviction by a magistrates’ court for a summary offence on a guilty plea | £150 |
Conviction by a magistrates’ court at a trial of a summary offence where (a) the defendant did not enter a plea, (b) the trial proceeded in the absence of the defendant, and (c) the court dealt with the case on the papers without reliance on any oral evidence | £150 |
Conviction by a magistrates’ court for an offence triable either-way on a guilty plea | £180 |
Conviction by a magistrates’ court at a trial of a summary offence | £520 |
Conviction by a magistrates’ court at a trial of an offence triable either way | £1000 |
Conviction by the Crown Court on a guilty plea | £900 |
Conviction by the Crown Court at a trial on indictment | £1200 |
Magistrates’ court when dealing with a person for failure to comply with a community order, suspended sentence order or supervision requirement | £100 |
Crown Court when dealing with a person for failure to comply with a community order, suspended sentence order or supervision requirement | £150 |
More information about the Criminal Court Charge can be found here:
The Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Criminal Courts Charge) Regulations 2015
Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, ss 21A-F