Pre-charge engagement work payment fees
News story
New payment fees to cover work completed for pre-charge engagement are being introduced today (7 June 2021).
The Contract Amendments to the Specification and Standard Terms have been published.
CWA and associated Crime Lower reporting Guidance has been updated to include a new code, INVM, to bill this work.
Amendments have also been made to the Criminal Bills Assessment Manual.
Summary of the changes
Pre-charge engagement refers to voluntary engagement between the parties to an investigation after the first police (PACE) interview, and before any suspect has been formally charged, undertaken in accordance with the Attorney General’s guidelines on disclosure.
The fees remunerate solicitors who act on behalf of suspects engaged in this process, these will be remunerated on an hourly rates basis with an upper costs limit of £273.75. Where can I find out more?
Chapter 9 of the Standard Crime Contract sets out the contractual rules which apply to the new fee.
Further information
Standard Crime Contract 2017 – see new section in chapter 9 for amendments
Criminal Bills Assessment Manual – see new section 5.16 for claiming details
CWA Guidance – See updates in sections 2, 5 and 7.
Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 – to view regulatory changes introducing new fees
Criminal Legal Aid Review – MOJ consultation hub
Published 7 June 2021