Criminals to pay for costs of Crimes

6:38am UK, Monday January 30, 2012

Darren Little, news correspondent


Criminals are going to be made to pay for the costs of their crimes as part
of a new initiative to be announced by the Justice Secretary Ken
Clarke.



The plans will mean offenders have to contribute to the cost of victim
support services and a compensation fund, which are currently funded by the
taxpayer.


The Government wants to raise an extra £50m from offenders through the
so-called "victim surcharge" and other financial measures.


It says it ultimately intends funding for victims' services to remain
unchanged, which has been criticised by some of those offering support to
victims of crime.



Justice Secretary Ken Clarke will unveil the plans




Kieron Bimpson has just opened a support centre in Liverpool, which is named
in memory of his daughter Francesca who died after an arsonist set fire to her
home in Everton.


Since her death, Mr Bimpson has been raising money to open the new
centre.

He claims the new proposals have less to do with making criminals pay and
more to do with Government cost cutting.

"I think it's an absolutely ridiculous idea," he told Sky News. "Obviously
there isn't a lot of money to go round and I think the Government is on a cost
cutting exercise to try and recoup the costs that they have given away to the
bank by making victims suffer again.

"I think criminals haven't got any money anyway so I don't see where the
money is going to come from."


The new proposals would see the victims surcharge rise from a flat rate of
£15 to £120 and would apply to every offender.


At the moment, the most serious offenders do not pay the levy because it only
applies to those who are given fines in court.

I think it's an absolutely ridiculous idea. Obviously there isn't a lot of
money to go round and I think the Government is on a cost cutting
exercise.

Kieron Bimpson, whose daughter was killed in a
fire


Mr Clarke is also planning to increase speeding fixed penalty fines from £60
to £100, with the £5,000 cap on fines which can be levied by magistrates courts
removed.


As part of the consultation, the Government is keen
to re-focus the Criminal Injuries Compensation
Scheme.


Those serving prison sentences can currently make a claim but under the
proposals, only those who are "blameless victims of crime" would be
eligible.


In the last 10 years, it is thought 20,000 claimants with criminal records
have received more than £75m in compensation. In 2010/11, total payouts under
the scheme cost the Government almost £300m.


The Ministry of
Justice also hopes it will also be able to reduce the long backlog in
compensation claims by completely removing criminals from being
eligible.

Can anybody see ex cons working to repay Court Costs?????

Panda wrote:Can anybody see ex cons working to repay Court Costs?????

Only if we have chain gangs like they do in the US. (Which would be no bad thing)

malena stool wrote:

Panda wrote:Can anybody see ex cons working to repay Court Costs?????

Only if we have chain gangs like they do in the US. (Which would be no bad thing)

At one time they used to sew Mail Bags but I"m sure they are capable of doing useful work.

Panda wrote:

malena stool wrote:

Panda wrote:Can anybody see ex cons working to repay Court Costs?????

Only if we have chain gangs like they do in the US. (Which would be no bad thing)

At one time they used to sew Mail Bags but I"m sure they are capable of doing useful work.

If they were put to work they'd demand the opportunity to form a Union, and the politically correct do gooding oafs that haunt the corridors of power would agree.

malena stool wrote:

Panda wrote:

malena stool wrote:

Panda wrote:Can anybody see ex cons working to repay Court Costs?????

Only if we have chain gangs like they do in the US. (Which would be no bad thing)

At one time they used to sew Mail Bags but I"m sure they are capable of doing useful work.

If they were put to work they'd demand the opportunity to form a Union, and the politically correct do gooding oafs that haunt the corridors of power would agree.

Malena, there are many jobs they could do to help the Community instead of languishing in Jail costing HM Prisons a fortune.