Schedule 8: Costs in criminal cases: service courts Part 3: Sentencing and punishment of offenders Fines Section 87: Power to amend standard scale of fines for summary offences
480.Section 87 gives the Secretary of State power by order to alter the sums specified as levels 1 to 4 on the standard scale of fines for summary offences.
481.Subsection (1) provides that the Secretary of State may by order substitute for the sums specified as levels 1 to 4 on the standard scale, such sums as the Secretary of State considers appropriate. Level 1 is currently £200, level 2 is £500, level 3 is £1,000 and level 4 is £2,500.
482.Subsection (2) prevents the Secretary of State from altering the sums in a way which alters the ratio of the levels to each other.
483.Subsections (5) and (6) provide that orders made under this section are to be made by statutory instrument, using the affirmative resolution procedure.
484.Subsection (7) provides that an order altering the sums does not affect fines for offences committed before the order comes into force.