Recovery of Defence costs review: Public ConsultationThe Recovery of Defence Costs Orders (RDCO) scheme was commenced on October 2012, as a means of recovering such part of the cost of legal aid incurred under a criminal legal aid certificate for the defence of a convicted individual in the Crown Court, as was reasonable in all the circumstances of the case, including the financial resources of the defendant.
In its report entitled “Managing Legal Aid”, published in June 2016, the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) recommended that the DOJ “examine the existing arrangements governing [the 2012 Rules], in order to determine how they can be enhanced to achieve greater impact.”
In response to the issues highlighted by the NIAO, the DOJ undertook to complete a review of the arrangements governing RDCOs and deliver any recommended remedial actions. The attached documents set out the findings of the review and proposals for improving the operation of the scheme, for public consultation.