Figures reveal 4% of criminal court charges collected within a month

Just 4% of criminal court charges are being paid within a month, official figures have shown, as the Government prepares to axe the controversial scheme.

The fee issued to convicted criminals - branded a "tax on justice" by critics - is being scrapped on Christmas Eve amid widespread opposition from lawyers and campaign groups.

Since April, those convicted of crimes in England and Wales have had to pay a charge between £150 and £1,200.

Opponents claim the charge creates a "perverse incentive" to plead guilty, with some defendants attempting to admit charges even though they claim to be innocent in order to pay the minimum amount.

Figures published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) showed £27.7 million in criminal court charges had been issued since the scheme was introduced.

But only 4% of the fees were collected within a month of being imposed between July and September.

Shadow human rights minister Andy Slaughter said: "We always suspected that the criminal courts charge was distorting the criminal justice system and now we know the truth.

"The pitiful collection rate revealed today shows that it was financially flawed from the start. Worthless as well as dangerous. Why on earth did the Government sign it off in the first place?"

Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "Beyond the fact the criminal courts charge was unfair and unrealistic in terms of the expectations laid on those before the courts, this latest evidence on the low collection rate shows it was never going to make the money that the Ministry of Justice thought it would.

"It is a policy that has failed on every level. Abolition of the charge at Christmas cannot come too soon."

The criminal courts charge was introduced by the Justice Secretary Michael Gove's predecessor Chris Grayling during the coalition government to help towards the running of the courts system.

But Mr Gove recently said it had "become clear that while the intention behind the policy was honourable, in reality that intent has fallen short."

According to the MoJ figures, the total value of outstanding court fees between July and September was £624 million - a 12% increase on the same period last year.

A total of £149.5 million in court fees - including costs, fines, victim surcharge, compensation and criminal court charges - were issued between July and September, 20% up on the previous three months.

Some 10% - £15.2 million - had been paid within the month the fee was imposed.

Between July and September, £91 million was paid in financial penalties issued by courts - a 20% increase on the same period last year and 6% up on the previous three months.

An MoJ spokesman said: "We have listened to the concerns raised about the criminal courts charge.

"The charge will no longer be imposed from 24 December onwards.

"The Justice Secretary has commissioned a wider review into all financial impositions in the criminal courts."

Meanwhile, justice minister Shailesh Vara announced a 10% increase in court fees for a range of civil proceedings, including enforcement proceedings, determination of costs proceedings, and civil business in the magistrates courts.

New fees are being introduced for the first time in certain tax and financial chambers and also property courts, Mr Vara said in a written ministerial statement.

Shadow justice minister Karl Turner said: "The Tories talk of one-nation justice yet they keep limiting access to justice, undermining people's rights and curtailing ordinary citizens' ability to hold them to account.

"It is clear they haven't learned from the fiasco of LASPO (legal aid reform) or employment tribunal fees.

"While it is right that savings need to be made in our courts system, this must not be off the back of the most vulnerable and by weakening basic rights."