This article shows that the public are staring to be aware of the injustice of the Courts' charge. The scheme will eventually collapse under the weight of its contradictions, unless Mr. Gove accepts the sensible advice he has been given, and knocks it on the head.
From the article "An MoJ spokesperson said: ‘It is right that convicted adult offenders who use our criminal courts should pay towards the cost of running them. The introduction of this charge makes it possible to recover some of the costs of the criminal courts from these offenders, therefore reducing the burden on taxpayers."
ReplyDeleteSo does allowing the court to pass on the prosecution's requested costs, which I have no problem seeing being increased, whilst it's still up to the bench to determine what the defendant should actually pay, based on their means.
The public ?? my eye they are.. unless you mean "the public" in terms of those who appear before magistrates..
ReplyDeleteMichael Gove is nothing more than a Scottish journalist who demonstrated his contempt for consultation, and inability to grasp anything technical, while he was at Education.
ReplyDeleteFirst time in many years that I've agreed with the Howard League's statements.
ReplyDelete'Last week it was reported that some magistrates have resigned as a result of the charges.'
ReplyDeleteThere is no link to verify this claim. It follows on from the belief by some journalists (without quoting a reference) that judges use gavels. In any claim it's always the proper act to refer to the original text by stating where this can be found.
I don't think Gove has ever done anything that has ever amounted to anything other than a bloody mess!
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