Society outrage at ‘back door’ criminal court fees

Suspects pleading not guilty in the Crown court will risk paying a court fee of £1,200 if convicted under guidelines slipped into legislation without debate in the final days of the current parliament.

Law Society president Andrew Caplen described the new charges as ‘outrageous’ and a threat to fair trials.

The new set of criminal court charges comes into force from 13 April after being laid before parliament last week.