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#Post#: 115213--------------------------------------------------
advice on asking for crown court costs to be remitted
DIR By: dynamyq
Date: April 4, 2026, 3:04 pm
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I’m looking for guidance on a situation involving Crown Court
costs and whether there is any mechanism to seek remission due
to financial hardship.
I was unsuccessful in a firearms licence appeal at Crown Court
(November 2024). The judge ruled against me and awarded costs in
favour of the Metropolitan Police (around £4,000+).
At the hearing, I made it clear that I was not working, but the
judge did not engage with my financial circumstances and still
awarded full costs. The interaction felt dismissive, and I came
away with the impression that my situation had not been properly
considered.
My understanding (from experience in the Magistrates’ Court) is
that where someone is unemployed or on benefits, the court will
usually consider their means and often remit or reduce costs,
particularly if they cannot realistically be paid within a
reasonable timeframe (e.g. 12 months).
Fast forward to now — I have been out of work for several months
and am currently on DWP benefits. I tried to go back through the
court to ask whether I could apply for some or all of the costs
to be remitted due to hardship (similar to how it works in the
Magistrates’ Court).
However, I’ve run into a complete dead end:
The Crown Court says it has no jurisdiction to vary or remit the
costs once ordered.
The Magistrates’ Court says it also has no power to vary Crown
Court costs.
I’ve been told the Met Police are enforcing the costs, and I
should speak to them.
The police have allowed me to pay in instalments (e.g.
~£50/month), but they are not willing to remit or reduce the
amount.
At this rate, it will take me several years to pay off the
costs, which seems disproportionate given I am on benefits.
So my questions are:
Is it correct that there is no mechanism at all to apply for
remission of Crown Court costs based on hardship?
Why does the Magistrates’ Court have a clear process for this,
but the Crown Court apparently does not?
Is it really correct that the enforcing party (the police) are
effectively the only ones who can consider hardship, rather than
a court?
Is there any route (short of judicial review, which seems
time-barred) to get this reconsidered?
I’ve also gone through the complaints process with HMCTS, but
haven’t received any clear answer on whether such a mechanism
exists.
Would really appreciate any insight from those familiar with
Crown Court procedure or costs enforcement.
Thanks in advance.
#Post#: 115215--------------------------------------------------
Re: advice on asking for crown court costs to be remitted
DIR By: andy_foster
Date: April 4, 2026, 3:39 pm
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As a general rule, you can appeal against any material decision
of a court to the next court up the food chain, if it misapplied
the law, procedures or was Wednesbury unreasonable. In most
cases, you would need permission to appeal, either form the
court you are appealing from or from the court that you were
appealing to. And the appeal would need to be lodged within 21
days unless you can show a good reason why you could not lodge
it within that timescale.
Off the top of my head, I would say that November 2024 was a bit
more than 21 days ago.
#Post#: 115216--------------------------------------------------
Re: advice on asking for crown court costs to be remitted
DIR By: Southpaw82
Date: April 4, 2026, 4:37 pm
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I’m not surprised that the magistrates court said it couldn’t
help, since it is different to, and inferior to, the Crown
Court. The Crown Court was exercising civil jurisdiction - not
criminal - and IIRC the civil rules on costs follow, namely
costs normally follow the event and ability to pay is
irrelevant.
#Post#: 115553--------------------------------------------------
Re: advice on asking for crown court costs to be remitted
DIR By: dynamyq
Date: April 10, 2026, 1:38 pm
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As I understand it, in the Magistrates Court, if a fine or costs
order cannot be paid within 12 months, an individual can return
to the court, make a statutory declaration of means, and apply
for the costs/fine to be remitted — for example, on the basis
that they are unemployed or in receipt of DWP benefits and
genuinely cannot afford to pay. This is a well-established
process.
**My question – Crown Court equivalent**
I am trying to establish whether there is an equivalent
mechanism available in the Crown Court. Specifically:
1. **Is there a similar principle in the Crown Court** whereby,
if a fine or costs order cannot be paid within 12 months due to
genuine financial hardship, a person can return to the Crown
Court and apply for the order to be varied, reduced, or
remitted?
2. **Does the 21-day rule present a barrier?** In the Crown
Court, applications to vary a sentence or order are typically
made within 21 days of the original hearing (under the Crown
Court's slip rule or the Court of Appeal route). However, if the
basis for the application is *ongoing financial hardship* rather
than an error at the time of sentencing, is there a mechanism
that allows a person to return to the Crown Court *after* that
21-day window has passed?
3. t I'm unclear whether there is a specific statutory provision
or procedural route equivalent to the Magistrates' remission
process that applies where circumstances have changed *after*
the order was made.
Any guidance on the correct statutory footing, case law, or
procedural route would be greatly appreciated. I'm particularly
interested in whether a change in financial circumstances (e.g.
loss of employment, reliance on benefits) after the original
order gives rise to a right to return to the Crown Court outside
the usual 21-day window.
Thank you in advance.
#Post#: 115564--------------------------------------------------
Re: advice on asking for crown court costs to be remitted
DIR By: andy_foster
Date: April 10, 2026, 3:13 pm
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As nobody seemed to be aware of the process you are hoping
exists when you first asked, I would be surprised if your
"clarification" of the question has changed anything.
However, on the subject of change, as you were out of work when
the judge refused to listen to your hardship plea, and are now
still out of work, what material changes do you think would
engage such a process, other than that they are now actively
chasing you for the money.
#Post#: 115648--------------------------------------------------
Re: advice on asking for crown court costs to be remitted
DIR By: dynamyq
Date: April 12, 2026, 2:18 pm
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there's a big diffrence bewteen you not being aware and "nobody
seemed to be aware"
I posetd the message to see if anyone else was aware.
if you're not aware that's fine but that doesn't equaute to no
one else being aware of a process.
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