CPS chief executive officer Rebecca Lawrence confirmed the payment as well as other temporary adjustments to CPS fee schemes this week, in a letter to Criminal Bar Association chair Caroline Goodwin QC.
Payment is
‘likely to occur in early May’, Lawrence said. The £500 will be deductible
against the main hearing fee payable at the conclusion of the case. It will be
payable to the instructed advocate in any case affected by the pandemic
restrictions, which has been previously adjourned for trial and has yet to have
a main hearing.
If the
advocate returns the brief to another advocate then the full main fee will be
paid to the one originally instructed, and reconciliation ‘will take place on a
counsel-to-counsel basis’.
Lawrence also
confirmed the CPS would pay for work done prior to the conclusion of a case
where delays to proceedings are encountered, ‘maintain timely payments’ for any
work done during the affected period, and take account of ongoing operational
challenges ‘caused by remote working and possible reductions in workforce’.
Goodwin said:
‘This is unprecedented and will go a long way to helping the junior bar in the
coming months as we all battle with COVID-19.
‘We are
extremely appreciative of the time that has gone in to ensure that faster
payments can be made and we recognise that this is an incredibly supportive and
much need gesture to ensure the longevity of the bar at this time.’
