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| Motorists face £15 'victims levy' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Motorists in England and Wales fined for minor offences face having to pay bigger penalties under a government scheme to compensate victims of crime. | Motorists in England and Wales fined for minor offences face having to pay bigger penalties under a government scheme to compensate victims of crime. |
| Since 2007, a £15 surcharge has been added to the fines of all people convicted of a crime, to raise money for support services for crime victims. | Since 2007, a £15 surcharge has been added to the fines of all people convicted of a crime, to raise money for support services for crime victims. |
| Now ministers want to extend the scheme to on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices for a range of offences. | Now ministers want to extend the scheme to on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices for a range of offences. |
| They say the offences that could be targeted are not victimless crimes. | They say the offences that could be targeted are not victimless crimes. |
| Under the current scheme, anyone fined by the courts pays an extra £15. | Under the current scheme, anyone fined by the courts pays an extra £15. |
| 'Stealth tax denial' | 'Stealth tax denial' |
| However, ministers believe the amount raised could be significantly increased if it was extended to include people issued with on-the-spot fines or fixed penalty notices. | However, ministers believe the amount raised could be significantly increased if it was extended to include people issued with on-the-spot fines or fixed penalty notices. |
| This could include motorists caught speeding or flouting parking restrictions and those guilty of disorder offences such as shoplifting, writing graffiti or being drunk and disorderly. | This could include motorists caught speeding or flouting parking restrictions and those guilty of disorder offences such as shoplifting, writing graffiti or being drunk and disorderly. |
| Motorists need to obey the rules of the road but they also have to believe what they get penalised for committing relatively minor offences is fair Professor Stephen Glaister, RAC Foundation director | |
| Under the plans, a fine of £60 for speeding, using a mobile phone while driving or not wearing a seatbelt would be increased to £75. | Under the plans, a fine of £60 for speeding, using a mobile phone while driving or not wearing a seatbelt would be increased to £75. |
| In November last year, Justice Minister Claire Ward, said: "It is government policy that, where possible, offenders should contribute to victims' services as part of their reparation." | |
| Speaking in the Commons, she told MPs a surcharge would be added as soon as it was "feasible to do so". | |
| Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "You will have a hard job convincing motorists this is anything other than a stealth tax to shore up a creaking system strapped for cash. | Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "You will have a hard job convincing motorists this is anything other than a stealth tax to shore up a creaking system strapped for cash. |
| "Motorists need to obey the rules of the road but they also have to believe what they get penalised for committing relatively minor offences is fair, and not just some arbitrary figure." | "Motorists need to obey the rules of the road but they also have to believe what they get penalised for committing relatively minor offences is fair, and not just some arbitrary figure." |
| He argued that if money was needed to be set aside for victims, it should come out of existing charges. | He argued that if money was needed to be set aside for victims, it should come out of existing charges. |
| Government officials, however, deny the move amounts to a stealth tax. | Government officials, however, deny the move amounts to a stealth tax. |
| They say such offences are not "victimless crimes" as thousands are killed or injured on Britain's roads every year and others have their lives ruined by anti-social behaviour. | |
| The current levy, which was introduced in England and Wales as part of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, works in conjunction with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme that pays compensation to the victims of violent crime. | The current levy, which was introduced in England and Wales as part of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, works in conjunction with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme that pays compensation to the victims of violent crime. |
| The levy has raised nearly £4m in 2007/8 and £8m in 2008/9 for several victim services including Victim Support, the Victims Fund and the Crown Prosecution Service's witness care. | |
| Prior to its launch, the Home Office - which was responsible for the initiative at the time - said the surcharge was part of a series of moves to "rebalance" the criminal justice system in favour of victims. | Prior to its launch, the Home Office - which was responsible for the initiative at the time - said the surcharge was part of a series of moves to "rebalance" the criminal justice system in favour of victims. |