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Thousands Owed Share of £5m Payout to Victims Accused of Fare Dodging
MoJ data shows £4.9 million has been repaid, but more than 2,600 people still await compensation after the convictions were quashed.
- Following a 2024 ruling, the Ministry of Justice has repaid £4.9 million to victims whose more than 48,000 criminal convictions were quashed. Judges found train operators unlawfully used the fast-track Single Justice Procedure to prosecute fare evasion.
- Eight train companies unlawfully prosecuted passengers for fare evasion using the SJP, which Parliament had not approved for such offences. Judge Goldspring concluded MPs "didn't envisage these offences being prosecuted through the Single Justice Procedure."
- Of the £4,900,096 repaid by the MoJ, more than half of those owed money have not yet come forward. A further £2.6 million in financial penalties remains unclaimed as thousands of people may remain unaware their convictions were overturned.
- Penelope Gibbs, director of campaign group Transform Justice, said the state has failed victims, calling it "the biggest miscarriage of justice in English and Welsh history." She argued all those affected—who paid an average of £319—should receive compensation.
- The Government is currently reviewing the SJP system and has promised to "set out reforms shortly." The Magistrates Association has renewed calls for change this month, citing undue pressure on magistrates to make quick decisions in bulk cases.
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33 Articles
33 Articles
Evening Standard+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Almost £5m paid out to miscarriage of justice victims accused of fare dodging
More than 48,000 people had their criminal convictions overturned after a 2024 ruling that train companies had spent years unlawfully using the fast-track Single Justice Procedure (SJP) to prosecute alleged fare dodging
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources33
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center30Last UpdatedBias Distribution91% Center
Bias Distribution
- 91% of the sources are Center
91% Center
C 91%
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