9 'Unjust' Court Cases That Show Why Campaigners Want Government's Criminal Charges Scrapped
9 'Unjust' Court Cases That Show Why 'Tax On Justice' Must Go
Graeme Demianyk— The Huffington Post UK
|
Open Image Modal
A man was ordered to pay £425 for chocolate buttons theft
shutterstock
The Government is under pressure to scrap controversial criminal courts charges that critics have dubbed a “tax on justice” amid convictions for theft of chocolate buttons, baby milk and socks being handed down with punitive costs.
Magistrates, lawyers and campaigners have all spoken out against the £150 flat fee - which is not means tested and can rise to £1,000 - citing cases where people guilty of petty crimes have little or no means to pay them off.
Introduced by Chris Grayling when he was Lord Chancellor during the dying days of the Coalition Government, his successor Michael Gove is under pressure to overhaul the charge or scrap it.
Open Image Modal
Michael Gove is reportedly reviewing criminal courts charges
The outcry has been underlined by a senior magistrate who quit after he was suspended for offering to pay towards the “iniquitous” charge imposed on a penniless asylum-seeker, and a judge who questioned the viability of the levy after imposing a mandatory £900 fee on a homeless shoplifter.
“He cannot afford to feed himself, so what are the prospects of him paying £900?,” said Judge Alan Large at Exeter Crown Court.
The Howard League for Penal Reform, which campaigns for justice reform, has compiled a list of court cases - involving theft of shoes, washing powder, and ice-cream, and even a man trying to kill himself by throwing himself through a car windscreen - that have all incurred the charge.
Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League, told The Huffington Post UK: “The damaging consequences of this unfair and unjust charge are becoming clearer by the day. Ordering indigent people to pay money they simply don’t have is never going to work. The criminal courts charge must go. It is time it was suspended, pending legislation to abolish it altogether.”
Here are nine of scores of cases reported across the UK.
9 'Unjust' Criminal Courts Charges
Taking chocolate buttons: £425 (01 of09)
Open Image Modal
A 38-year-old man stole chocolate buttons worth £1 from a shop in Waterlooville, Hampshire. He was ordered to pay £425, including a £150 criminal courts charge.
Baby milk theft: £295(02 of09)
Open Image Modal
A 34-year-old man who stole three bottles of baby milk from a supermarket in Derby, Derbyshire, was given a six-week community order with curfew and ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Shoplifting shower gel: £150.50(03 of09)
Open Image Modal
A 27-year-old man from Downham Market, Norfolk, stole shower gel from a shop because he “needed a wash”, magistrates heard. He was given a 12- month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge, plus £5.25 in compensation to the shop. (credit:stevanovicigor via Getty Images)
Stolen can of Red Bull: £165(04 of09)
Open Image Modal
A 26-year-old homeless man who stole a can of Red Bull worth 99p from a supermarket in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge and a £15 victim surcharge. (credit:Holly Ramer/AP)
Meat theft: £174(05 of09)
Open Image Modal
A 27-year-old man stole meat products worth £24 from a supermarket in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. His solicitor told the court that he sold the products on to pay for gas and electricity. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge and £24 in compensation. (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Kicking flower pot: £325(06 of09)
Open Image Modal
A 20-year-old man who was living in a hostel in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, kicked out at a flower pot after being stabbed with a needle by a fellow resident. He became homeless. He admitted criminal damage, which placed him in breach of two conditional discharges that were imposed on him for thefts. He was fined £70 and ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. (credit:Sabine Scheckel via Getty Images)
Loitering “for the purpose of prostitution”: £150(07 of09)
Open Image Modal
A 32-year-old woman admitted persistently loitering “for the purpose of prostitution” in Coventry, Warwickshire. She received a six-month engagement and support order and was ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge. (credit:KatarzynaBialasiewicz via Getty Images)
Sitting near a shop: £205(08 of09)
Open Image Modal
A 43-year-old man admitted breaching a criminal behaviour order by sitting on the ground within five metres of a shop without a reasonable excuse in Oxford, Oxfordshire. He was fined £100 and ordered to pay a £180 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Stealing cheese and socks: £900(09 of09)
Open Image Modal
A 40-year-old homeless woman with addictions to heroin and alcohol admitted breaching a criminal behaviour order after she was caught trying to steal cheese and socks from a supermarket in Ludlow, Shropshire. She was jailed for six months and ordered to pay a £900 criminal courts charge. (credit:Suzannah Skelton via Getty Images)