In an attempt to raise funds for victims, criminals imprisoned by magistrates in English and Welsh courts will no longer be permitted to forgo victim surcharges by serving additional time behind bars.
Previously, prisoners could bypass the victim surcharge system by spending more time in jail, but from 1st September this year, this will no longer be an option.
What is the victim surcharge? Created in 2007, the victim surcharge began as an additional sum of £15, payable on top of existing fines by those convicted of a criminal offence.
The surcharge sees money going to various charities for victims of crime.
The government reports that since 2010, approximately £51m has been raised and used for victim support.
Initially the extra fine was to be paid by those charged with fixed fines, but this was dropped after a public outcry from motorists.
The victim surcharge is part of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2014.
Rising fines This new updated law, implemented under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, will see criminals paying £80 for a sentence of six months or less, and £100 for jail terms of up to 12 months.
Magistrates will no longer be permitted to present an additional sentence instead of the fine.
A ground-breaking development Victims' minister, Mike Penning believes the latest change to be a step in the right direction, saying, "It is only right that offenders should pay both for their crimes and to help repair the damage they have done.
The money being raised through the surcharge is already being put to use in some ground-breaking ways to help people move on with their lives as much as possible.
" New legislation must be enforced There are many concerned that although the changes look good on paper, forcing criminals to pay the fines could prove a lot more difficult than expected.
Adam Pemberton, assistant chief executive of Victim Support said, "...
This only works if, along with court fines and compensation orders...
payments are robustly enforced.
" Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove stresses that not enough is currently being done to make sure fines are paid.
Speaking to the BBC, Baroness Newlove said, "I am pleased the government has recognised this by extending the surcharge to give more victims the support they deserve.
But around £12m has still not been collected - this is not good enough.
I want to see more of this money recovered - so it can make a real difference to those who have suffered from crime and improve the services they receive.
" Taking back control Ensuring victims get the support and advice they require has been at the forefront of the UK criminal justice system for some time and the victim surcharge is just one way in which the government is "putting the ball back in their court".
In 2013, an EU-funded trial allowing victims to meet with offenders was introduced.
Volunteers will be able to meet directly with offenders or can also contact them indirectly via a letter if they so wish.
Many see this form of restorative justice as beneficial for both victims and society as a whole.
Restorative justice manager for Thames Valley Probation, Geoff Emerson insists the scheme allows victims to "Get really good benefits".
He goes on to say, "It's enabling the person affected to have their say and it puts them into a position of some degree of power, it empowers them to change things and move on.
" Justice Minister Jeremy Wright also highlights how the scheme makes criminals "Face the consequences of their actions".
The trial scheme will continue until December 2014.