CPS Graduated Fees

The CPS Graduated Fees Scheme (GFS) was introduced on 29th October 2001 and revised in October 2005. That revised scheme(Scheme B) applied to all cases committed, transferred or sent to the Crown Court on or after 3rd October 2005. On 1st March 2012 a revised scheme known as Scheme C was introduced. Scheme C was amended as of the 5th February 2018 to reflect small changes to processing and court processes, all links to the right have been updated . Scheme D Was introduced on the 1st September and applies to all hearings taking place on or after this date. Scheme E was introduced in February 2020.

CPS Graduated Fee Scheme F
Implemented following the review of defence fees, 15% increases to all fees from 2nd May 2023, including VHCC cases. Small Change to s28 Hearing approach.

CPS Graduated Fee Scheme E
The CPS Graduated Fee Scheme E marks a change again to the CPS payments scheme to be introduced in February 2020 , the proposed changes can be found linked to your right. You will find cases that encompass Scheme C,D and E

CPS Graduated Fee Scheme D
The key changes to GFS are summarised as follows:
-Increases to fixed fees to the level of the AGFS – the defence fee scheme
-Payment of daily fees from the second day of trial
-Removal of the reduction in daily fees in long running trials beyond 40 days
-An updated definition of an Effective Trial to reflect the trial process
-Expedited payment after a trial, when sentence is adjourned

The Manual of Guidance has been updated to reflect the changes to the scheme and is available on the CPS website and on the CPS Intranet.
Implementation – 1 September 2019

CPS graduated Fee Scheme D will apply to all main hearings and fixed fee hearings in existing and new cases that take place on or after 1 September 2019.

As is currently the case, all fees will be paid at the end of the case but the following shall apply:
-All hearings up to and including 31 August will be remunerated under scheme C
-All hearings taking place on or after 1 September will be remunerated under scheme D
-Trials which are part-heard on 1 September will be paid under scheme D

It follows that it may be necessary in some cases to make two payments to counsel where a case has some hearings before 1 September but other hearings after that date, resulting in cases with hearings that fall to be remunerated under schemes C and D.

CPS have fully embraced paperless billing through their "Zanzibar" system, the system is proving a success with payment time averaging currently around 7-10 days from case conclusion .