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Contract information
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Notifying us of high cost cases
Regulations provide that firms notify the Complex Crime Unit (CCU) if they are instructed on a case meeting the very high cost case (VHCC) criteria.
Please see Documents for the:
- notification rules
- notification request form.
The CCU will decide whether the case meets the VHCC criteria. This decision cannot be appealed. All VHCCs are then managed under individual case contracts.
Work on VHCC fraud cases can only be done by firms who are members of the Specialist Fraud Panel.
The new panel scheme
We have re-issued panel member and panel advocate contracts. View or download them on the Crime contracts>Very High Cost Case Contracts page.
Cases started before 14 Jan 08
Once the CCU has decided to contract for a case we will send the solicitor:
- a contract specification (see Documents)
- the contract
- details of your dedicated Contract Manager.
The defence team (solicitors and barristers) should jointly send us a case plan, stage plan and task list. Templates and guidance are under Documents.
The Contract Manager will then decide if the case meets VHCC criteria and meet with the firm.
Please read the contract specification under Documents for details including:
- management of the case
- negotiation of hours
- payment for work done.
Livenote
Livenote is a real time court transcription service provided by Wordwave International.
The cost is divided equally amongst the court, prosecution and defence.
To get funding for the defence share of the cost, each defence team must send an application form (under Documents, on the right) to the Complex Crime Unit.
Other documents
Panel members' task list and Stage 0 forms are available by calling 020 7718 8257.
Last updated: 06 May 2008