APL welcomes the long awaited Government response to the criminal fees consultation published today 1 December 2025. The Government has confirmed that prison law fees will increase by 24% from 22 December 2025.
The Government paper outlines the responses that were received, which included APL’s response. It summarises the feedback from consultees that an increase in prison law fees was “welcome, much needed, and overdue.”
While this still means that prison law rates are in real terms significantly less than they were 15 years ago, it is the first increase in decades and is indeed very “welcome, much needed and overdue”.
The APL reiterates its initial response to the original consultation and will continue to press for a sustainable, properly funded, legal aid system for prison law work that recognises that it is complex and difficult.
