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Criminal Defence Service (CDS)- Very high cost criminal cases
Very high cost criminal cases
On this page:
- What is a high cost criminal case?
- The future of very high cost cases
- The panel scheme
- Complex fraud cases
- For more information
What is a very high cost criminal case?
This is a case where the trial is likely to last :
- for more than 40 days
- between 25 and 40 days and meets the criteria below.
Trials that last between 25 and 40 days count as very high cost if they are:
- terrorism prosecutions
- SFO prosecutions.
or any two of:
- at least 10,000 pages of prosecution evidence
- at least 10,000 pages of unused or third party material
- more than five defendants
- fraud or serious drugs cases where the value of the fraud or drugs exceeds £1m.
The future of very high cost cases
We have launched a consultation on a sustainable scheme for very high cost cases.
The proposed schemes are the result of close cooperation between the Bar Council, The Law Society, the Ministry of Justice and the LSC.
View and respond to the consultation online...
The panel scheme
Cases started on or after 14 Jan 08 operate under our very high cost case panel scheme.
Read more about the VHCC panel...
Complex fraud cases
The LSC's Complex Crime Unit manages membership of the Specialist Fraud Panel.
Read more about complex fraud cases…
For more information
Please contact the Complex Crime Unit with any questions.
Last updated: 29 December 2008