Criminals will have to pay a minimum of £100 to support victims’ services

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Today, criminals can pay as little as £22 in the “victims’ surcharge” which is used to fund support services and the National Homicide Service.

The Conservatives had a manifesto commitment to increase the surcharge by 20 percent but will now consult on raising it to at least £100.

This is so criminals will be forced to take greater responsibility for the cost of supporting victims. Already high demand for support services has intensified during the pandemic.
Under the present system, the surcharge raises around £35million but it is hoped it will be become a much bigger source of income for services to help victims.

A Government source said: “Offenders must pay the price for their crimes. Raising the surcharge will help cut crime by jacking up the penalty for an offence.

“It will also allow us to boost services for victims to ensure they are getting the support and care they need. This government is committed to bearing down on crime and protecting the public as a key part of our plan to level up the country.”

This week the Government will also set out plans to clamp down on the “scourge of drugs”. It sees tackling crime as a core part of “levelling up” and wants to ensure that “everyone has the security and confidence that comes from having a safe street and a safe home”.

A new drugs strategy billed as the “first of its kind” will be launched. This will include a commitment to “ruthlessly pursue the criminal gangs responsible for bringing drugs in” but also overhaul treatment and recovery services to break the addictions that drive crime.

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“Anything which we do to tackle those things is all to the good.”

The new crusade against crime comes as the Government has moved to make attacking a shopworker an “aggravated offence” which will result in tougher punishment.

Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies said: “I worked in Asda for 12 years before entering Parliament and I know how hard staff work and I feel very strongly that the despicable people that assault these workers should face much tougher sentences from the courts.”

Stockton South Conservative MP Matt Vickers, who has campaigned for the change in the law, said: “When the pandemic struck many of us retreated to the safety of our own homes but our retail workers rolled up their sleeves and kept the country running. Every day, 455 of these committed men and women get assaulted just for going about their job.”

Tory MP Esther McVey, who leads the Blue Collar group of Conservatives, said: “We are asking workers to go above and beyond in the fight against Covid and they need to know we support them and are on their side.”

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