Mr Gove said that the Ministry of Justice will review the entire structure of court-ordered financial impositions for offenders, stressing that the principal behind the policy to make offenders contribute towards the costs of seeing justice is done was right.

More effective and sustainable

He said: ‘This review will seek to achieve three goals: giving the judiciary greater discretion in setting financial impositions; making financial penalties a more effective tool in delivering improved non-custodial sentences; and ensuring that money raised through financial penalties plays an appropriate - and sustainable - role in supporting taxpayers to meet the costs of running the courts.’

Controversial charge

The courts charge has been controversial since its introduction in April. More than 50 magistrates have resigned in protest and critics argue it is encouraging innocent people to plead guilty to avoid higher costs. Source: The Law Society Gazette