Victim surcharge?
Discussion
The victim surcharge is a relatively new Government invention used by the court whenever a financial penalty is imposed. It's a fixed fee of £15 that goes directly to a fund for the victims of crime. The court have no discretion on whether to impose it or not and it matters not what the criminal offence is, no matter how minor or unrelated to violence.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
IT is effectively a tax on petty criminals. It is a despicable thing - labelled emotively, implying that the money goes to victims. In reality it goes into central government funds.
It is a disproportionate levy - if you get fined 10 grand, you still only get a £15 VSC. If you get fined 15 quid, effectivly your fined is *doubled*.
I abhor it, as do most of my colleagues. The Maggies Association has campaigned long and vigorously for its removal. Last year two JPs in Cambridgeshire resigned rather than apply it.
It is a disproportionate levy - if you get fined 10 grand, you still only get a £15 VSC. If you get fined 15 quid, effectivly your fined is *doubled*.
I abhor it, as do most of my colleagues. The Maggies Association has campaigned long and vigorously for its removal. Last year two JPs in Cambridgeshire resigned rather than apply it.
paoloh said:
Chrispy Porker said:
Do you have to apply it?
Surely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
That would require thought! LOLSurely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
Chrispy Porker said:
Do you have to apply it?
Surely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
No. We have absolutely no discretion with the VSC. And fines are often set penalties or means based, so it's difficult to tinker with the amounts.Surely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
Also, I disagree with the VSC. However, I signed up to apply UK law. All of it - not piecemeal. If I ever come across something that's so repugnant (changing the law so SP30s carry a mandatory jail term), and I really think 'I can't do this', then I'll resign.
paoloh said:
Chrispy Porker said:
Do you have to apply it?
Surely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
That would require thought! LOLSurely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
So, why don't *you* become a JP then, Mr Paoloh?
RtdRacer said:
paoloh said:
Chrispy Porker said:
Do you have to apply it?
Surely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
That would require thought! LOLSurely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
So, why don't *you* become a JP then, Mr Paoloh?
RtdRacer said:
paoloh said:
Chrispy Porker said:
Do you have to apply it?
Surely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
That would require thought! LOLSurely the bench has discretion?
Also if you were minded to fine someone £30, would you now make that a £15 plus the surcharge, so the total is still £30?
So, why don't *you* become a JP then, Mr Paoloh?
As stated elsewhere, the thought of enforcing some of the laws in this coutry would not sit well with me.
RtdRacer said:
I signed up to apply UK law. All of it - not piecemeal. If I ever come across something that's so repugnant (...), and I really think 'I can't do this', then I'll resign.
So the only real difference between you and a lot of the rest of us is that we reached that point before signing up.Edited by Einion Yrth on Monday 25th February 14:58
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