News story

Crime news: extension of 2017 crime contract to 31 March 2021

Contract extension notices are being issued to individual providers.

We are extending the 2017 standard crime contract by 12 months to 31 March 2021. Contract extension notices are being issued to individual providers to notify them of the extension.

Why is this happening?

This is being done so that we can consider the outcome of Ministry of Justice reviews into criminal legal aid and the means tests before we put a new crime contract in place. These reviews are due to report towards the end of summer 2020.

Next Steps

Providers do not need to take any action for this extension to take effect. We will issue the new schedules before the end of March 2020.

Further information

Standard crime contract 2017 – to download ‘headline intentions on extending the 2017 standard crime contract’ document

Criminal legal aid review

Means test review into thresholds for legal aid entitlement thresholds

Published 12 August 2019