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CPS Fees Bulletins

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The rules concerning the CPS Graduated Fee Scheme (GFS) are detailed in the Manual of Guidance. The rules concerning the CPS Very High Cost Cases (VHCC) Scheme are detailed in the Terms of Appointment. Fees bulletins are issued when there are updates to these schemes, or when clarification of certain matters is necessary. This section contains the fees bulletins issued since 2012.

Fees Bulletins

2024:

Fees Bulletin No.3 of 2024 – Hotel Accommodation - Guideline Rates
This fees bulletin confirms increases to the guideline rates for hotel accommodation claimable under the CPS Fee Schemes by external advocates instructed on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Fees Bulletin No.3 of 2024 – Hotel Accommodation - Guideline Rates

Fees Bulletin No.2 of 2024 – Section 28 Interim Payment and VHCC Reduced Scheme Threshold
This fees bulletin outlines the introduction of a new payment trigger point for Section 28 Fixed Fees and a revision to the VHCC reduced scheme costs threshold. Both changes will apply to new and existing cases from 6 May 2024.
Fees Bulletin No.2 of 2024 – Section 28 Interim Payment and VHCC Reduced Scheme Threshold

Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2024 – Graduated Fee Scheme - Section 28 Fee
This fees bulletin confirms that, effective from Monday 15 January 2024, the fixed fee payable in Section 28 cases will increase.
Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2024 – Graduated Fee Scheme - Section 28 Fee

2023:

Fees Bulletin No.4 of 2023 – ULS Fees
This Fees Bulletin outlines changes to the CPS fee arrangements relating to Unduly Lenient Sentence referrals, which will come into effect on 2 May 2023.
Fees Bulletin No.4 of 2023 – ULS Fees

Fees Bulletin No.3 of 2023 – Magistrates & Youth Court Fees
This fees bulletin outlines the CPS fee arrangements in respect of magistrates’ court and the Youth Court work undertaken by external advocates on or after 2 May 2023.
Fees Bulletin No.3 of 2023 – Magistrates & Youth Court Fees

Fees Bulletin No.2 of 2023 – Very High Cost Case Scheme
This fees bulletin outlines changes to the Very High Cost Case (VHCC) Fee Scheme, which will come into effect on 2 May 2023.
Fees Bulletin No.2 of 2023 – Very High Cost Case Scheme

Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2023 – Graduated Fee Scheme (F)
This fees bulletin details the changes and implementation arrangements in respect of the CPS Graduated Fees Scheme F (Scheme F), which will come into effect on 2 May 2023.
Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2023 – Graduated Fee Scheme (F)

2021:

Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2021 – End to Covid-19 Changes
This fees bulletin confirms that, with effect from 4 October 2021, the temporary changes to CPS fee schemes introduced to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 will be withdrawn.
Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2021 – End to Covid-19 Changes

2020:

Fees Bulletin No.5 of 2020 – Covid-19 – Cracked trials and S.28
This fees bulletin outlines further interim changes to the GFS, in response to the impact of Covid-19 on crown court proceedings, relating to cases resolved after the PTPH and S.28 hearings.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin No.5 of 2020 – Covid-19 – Cracked trials and S.28 (PDF document, approx 473kb)

Fees Bulletin No.4 of 2020 - Covid 19 - Changes to Advocate Fee Payments
This fees bulletin provides guidance regarding the temporary changes to CPS fee schemes announced on 30 March 2020, aimed at supporting external advocates during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin No.4 of 2020 - Covid 19 - Changes to Advocate Fee Payments (PDF document, approx 581kb)

Fees Bulletin No.3 of 2020 - Changes to the CPS Very High Cost Case (VHCC) Fee Scheme
This fees bulletin outlines targeted changes to the CPS Very High Cost Case (VHCC) Fee Scheme following the 2019 CPS Counsel Fees Review.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin No.3 of 2020 - Changes to the CPS Very High Cost Case (VHCC) Fee Scheme(PDF document, approx 94kb)

Fees Bulletin No.2 of 2020 - Implementation of Scheme E
This fees bulletin details the implementation arrangements for the CPS Graduated Fee Scheme E, which will apply from 1 February 2020.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin No.2 of 2020 – Implementation of Scheme E (PDF document, approx 166kb)

Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2020 - Magistrates’ Court Fees
This fees bulletin outlines the CPS fee arrangements in respect of agent prosecutors in magistrates’ courts and the Youth Court with effect from 1 February 2020.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2020 – Magistrates’ Court Fees (PDF document, approx 107kb)

2019:

Fees Bulletin No.2 of 2019 -Retrials - Graduated Fee Scheme D
This fees bulletin clarifies the position relating to the payment of retrial fees under the CPS Graduated Fee Scheme D.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin No.2 of 2019 - Retrials - Graduated Fee Scheme D (PDF document, approx 121kb)

Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2019 - Implementation of Scheme D
This fees bulletin details the implementation arrangements for Graduated Fee Scheme D and the changes that will apply.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin No.1 of 2019 - Implementation of Scheme D (PDF document, approx 337kb)

2018:

Fees Bulletin No.3 of 2018 - Electronic Material and Revised NAE
This Bulletin discusses the remuneration of evidence held and served electronically and the request by defence practitioners to provide a page counts for that evidence.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin No.3 of 2018 - Electronic Material and Revised NAE (PDF document, approx 170kb)

Fees Bulletin 2 of 2018 - The Graduated Fee Scheme and the Digital Case System
This Bulletin clarifies the payment of evidence and the storage of material on DCS.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 2 of 2018 Graduated Fee Scheme and DCS (PDF document, approx 156kb)

Fees Bulletin 1 of 2018 - GFS Manual of Guidance
This bulletin details the changes to the Graduated Fees Manual of Guidance, which was updated with effect from 5th February 2018.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 1 of 2018 Revised Manual of Guidance BCM s28 (PDF document, approx 122kb)

2017:

Fees Bulletin 1 of 2017 - Graduated Fees Offence Codes
This bulletin details a list of offences not on the offence code list and gives guidance as to the suggested offence code that it may be most appropriate to place the offence.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 1 of 2017 Offence Class (PDF document, approx 175kb)

2016:

Fees Bulletin 3 of 2016 - Amendments to Fee Bulletin 2 of 2015
This bulletin amends and clarifies Fees Bulletin number 2 of 2015 in relation to Practice Direction on Better Case Management (BCM).
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 3 of 2016 (PDF document, approx. 311kb)

Fees Bulletin 2 of 2016 - Page Count and Cracked Trial
This fees bulletin clarifies a number of points raised recently in relation to page counts and the formal definition of a case being adjourned for trial.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 2 of 2016 (PDF document, approx. 256kb)

Fees Bulletin 1 of 2016 - Unduly Lenient Sentences
This fees bulletin details the position in relation to the remuneration of advocates, should a QC or level 4 advocate be instructed to conduct Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) preparation and advocacy work.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 1 of 2016 (PDF document, approx. 290kb)

2015:

Fees Bulletin 2 of 2015 - Better Case Management
This bulletin deals with how to remunerate counsel for hearings held in accordance with the Better Case Management initiative, including remuneration for Plea and Trial Preparation hearings (PTPH) Further Case Management Hearings (FCMH) and Compliance Hearings. The bulletin also contains guidance on the payment of main hearings at these hearings.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 2 of 2015 (PDF document, approx. 125kb)

Fees Bulletin 1 of 2015 - Very High Cost Cases Terms of Appointment
The CPS Very High Cost Cases Terms of Appointment has been revised. The document defines the services which the CPS expects of internal and external advocates in the preparation of cases and invoicing of fees which fall to be paid in accordance with the Very High Cost Case (VHCC) fee scheme.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 1 of 2015 (PDF document, approx. 44kb)

2014:

Fees Bulletin 1 of 2014 - Section 28
This document is intended to assist with the payment of the more complex fee scenarios in Graduated Fee Scheme C.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 1 of 2014 (PDF document, approx. 83kb)

2013:

Fees Bulletin 1 of 2013 - Assistance with the more complex fee scenarios
This document is intended to assist with the payment of the more complex fee scenarios in Graduated Fee Scheme C.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 1 of 2013 (PDF document, approx. 83kb)

2012:

Fees Bulletin 4 of 2012 - Clarification of GFC scheme C Mog paragraph 208 and 286
This document is intended to clarify the Manual of Guidance (MoG) in relation to:
Paragraph 208 Committals for Sentence with Section 73 Serious & Organised Crime & Police Act 2005 agreements, and
Paragraph 286 in respect of road and bridge tolls
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 4 of 2012 (PDF document, approx. 11kb)

Fees Bulletin 3 of 2012 - Graduated Fee Scheme, Very High Cost Case Scheme and other fee schemes - Long Stop Date
This guidance is provided in order to assist with the practical application of the Crown Prosecution Service Fee Schemes with reference to the Long Stop Date (1st August 2012).
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 3 of 2012 (PDF document, approx. 85kb)

Fees Bulletin 2 of 2012 - Clarification of GFS scheme C MoG paragraph 208 and 209
Clarification of the Manual of Guidance (MoG) in relation to: Paragraph 94(a) Mixed Pleas, Multiple Main Hearings, concurrent & consecutive hearings and Paragraphs 208 and 209 in so far as payment is concerned
This document is intended to clarify two issues concerning the application of Graduated Fee Scheme C.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 2 of 2012 (PDF document, approx. 12kb)

Fees Bulletin 1 of 2012 - GFS Scheme C Photographs served electronically
Clarification of paragraph 74 of the Manual of Guidance (MoG) in so far as it relates to photographs
This document is intended to clarify how the advocate will be paid for photographs which are taken with a digital camera and which are served in evidence on disc.
Available to download from this site as a PDF document.
Fees Bulletin 1 of 2012 (PDF document, approx. 14kb)

Related Publications

CPS Fees - Appeals Committee Decisions

The purpose of the Advocate Fee Appeals Committee is to resolve disputes by reference to published CPS fee schemes, in particular the Graduated Fee Scheme (GFS) and the Very High Cost Case scheme (VHCC). The rulings of the Committee are published for general reference and are contained within this section. The rulings are redacted to remove case specific details and advocate names.

Continue reading CPS Fees - Appeals Committee Decisions