Claiming Your Fees: Police Station Work Rates & Forms

Last Revised: 8 February 2026 — Updated to reflect the Criminal Legal Aid (General and Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1251), in force from 22 December 2025.

Introduction: Why Billing Knowledge Matters

Police station work is primarily funded through criminal legal aid. Understanding the legal aid fee structure directly affects income for representatives and firms. The Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 (as amended most recently by SI 2025/1251) govern police station payment.[1]

Legal Aid Fee Structure (From 22 December 2025)

The Key Change: Harmonised Fixed Fee

On 22 December 2025, the Ministry of Justice implemented fundamental changes to police station remuneration. Previously, 245 separate police station schemes each had their own fixed fee, ranging from £223.52 (National) to £315.86 (Heathrow). These regional variations have been abolished.

There is now a single, harmonised Fixed Fee across all of England and Wales:[2]

What the fixed fee covers:

• Travel to and from the station
• Reviewing custody record and disclosure
• Consultation with client
• Police interview(s)
• Post-interview liaison
• Completion of attendance notes
• All travel and waiting time

Important: The fixed fee applies to all cases with a Unique File Number (UFN) assigned on or after 22 December 2025. Cases with a UFN before this date must be claimed at the old rates.

Previous Rates (for UFNs before 22 December 2025)

For reference, the old rates that apply to cases opened before 22 December 2025 were:

Escape Fees (Enhanced Fees for Complex Cases)

The Escape Fee is a safety valve for complex cases. If the work calculated at hourly rates exceeds the Escape Fee Threshold of £650.00, you are paid for actual time spent rather than the fixed fee.[3]

Previous thresholds ranged from approximately £640 to £960 depending on scheme. The new unified threshold of £650.00 means more cases will qualify for the escape fee — a significant improvement for practitioners.

How Escape Fees Work

1. Calculate your costs at the applicable hourly rates (see below)
2. Compare to the threshold: If total > £650.00, claim the full hourly amount
3. If total ≤ £650.00, claim the Fixed Fee of £320.00

Strict Rule: You cannot mix the fixed fee and hourly rates. You get the fixed fee unless your hourly work exceeds £650.

Hourly Rates for Escape Fee Calculation (From 22 December 2025)

The hourly rates used to calculate whether a case escapes still vary by location:[2]

Preparation:

• National: £49.70 per hour
• London: £54.86 per hour

Attendance at police station:

• National: £49.70 per hour
• London: £54.86 per hour

Travel and waiting:

• National: £27.60 per hour
• London: £27.60 per hour

Routine letters/telephone calls:

• National: £4.05 per item
• London: £4.05 per item

Note: Although the fixed fee is now uniform, the hourly rates for escape fee calculation retain some London/National variation.

When Escape Fees May Apply

• Multiple interviews over extended period
• Complex disclosure requiring extensive analysis
• Vulnerable clients requiring additional time and support
• Remote stations requiring significant travel
• Serious offences with multiple suspects
• Extended detention beyond 24 hours

Each case is assessed on its individual merits by the LAA.

Telephone Advice Fee

Telephone advice is subject to its own fixed fee where attendance is not required.[6]

The telephone advice fee has also been updated under the 2025 regulations. The previous split between London and National rates has been harmonised.

Important: Telephone advice should only be given where it is genuinely appropriate. In-person attendance is required where necessary to protect the client's interests — particularly for serious allegations, vulnerable suspects, or complex legal issues.

Claiming Multiple Fees

The rules on claiming multiple fees remain unchanged by the 2025 regulations. The key test is whether the matters are "truly separate".

Claim Two Fees If:

• Different Occasions: Offences committed on clearly different dates
• Unconnected Matters: Arrested for Assault today, but questioned about a historic Burglary
• Separate Investigations: Matters that would not be joined on the same indictment

Single Fee Only If:

• Same Incident: Multiple charges arising from one event (e.g., Drink Drive + Assault PC)
• Linked Series: Multiple shopliftings from the same store over a week
• Multiple Interviews: Interviewed at 10am and again at 4pm for the same matter

Additional Claimable Costs

Mileage Claims

Mileage can be claimed for travel to police stations.[5]

HMRC approved rates (2025/26):

• First 10,000 miles annually: 45p per mile
• Miles beyond 10,000: 25p per mile

Note: Travel costs are included within the £320 fixed fee and are NOT paid on top unless the case escapes to hourly rates.

Disbursements

Certain disbursements may be claimable with prior authority from LAA.

Claiming Process

Submit a Bulk Claim (SaBC) — New System from February 2026

The LAA's new Submit a Bulk Claim (SaBC) system went live on 4 February 2026, replacing the previous CWA system (which was taken offline following the cyber-attack).[8]

Key changes:

• All monthly submissions must now be made via SaBC
• Providers upload bulkload files or case management system exports
• Claims cannot be entered individually — they must be uploaded via spreadsheet or CMS export
• The system validates claims and calculates fees automatically
• New fee codes apply to claims from 22 December 2025 onwards

Key Information Required

• Client details and UFN (Unique File Number)
• Date and time of attendance
• Police station attended
• Offence(s) investigated
• Outcome of attendance
• Time spent (if claiming escape fees)
• Correct fee code for the claim type

Submission Deadlines

• Monthly submissions are due by the 20th of the following month (the first SaBC deadline was 17 February 2026 for January claims)
• Late claims are liable to rejection unless exceptional circumstances demonstrated

Common Claiming Errors to Avoid

1. Using the wrong rate: Claims with UFN before 22 Dec 2025 must use old rates; on/after must use £320
2. Missing claim deadline: Submit within statutory time limits via SaBC
3. Incomplete forms: All required fields must be completed
4. Poor justification: Escape fee claims need detailed time records and justification
5. Inadequate time records: Keep contemporaneous time records for every attendance
6. Wrong fee code: Ensure correct fee code is used in the SaBC system
7. Mixing fixed and hourly rates: You cannot claim fixed fee plus additional hourly amounts

Documentation Requirements

Essential Records

• Attendance note (contemporaneous record of attendance)
• Time records (essential if claiming escape fees)
• Copy of custody record (where relevant)
• Notes of advice given
• Outcome of attendance

Retention period: Legal aid files must be retained for minimum 6 years.[7]

Audit and Compliance

The LAA conducts audits of legal aid claims. Ensure:

• Accurate record-keeping
• Claims match work undertaken
• Compliance with legal aid regulations and Standard Crime Contract 2025
• Proper supervision arrangements in place
• Correct UFN dating to determine applicable rate

Quick Reference Summary

References

[1] Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 (as amended) — legislation.gov.uk

[2] Criminal Legal Aid (General and Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1251) — legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/1251/made — In force 22 December 2025

[3] SI 2025/1251, Schedule 2, amending Schedule 4 paragraph 2(5) — Escape Fee Threshold harmonised to £650

[4] Legal Aid Agency Standard Crime Contract Specification 2025 — gov.uk

[5] HMRC Approved Mileage Allowance Payments — gov.uk/hmrc

[6] Criminal Legal Aid Manual — LAA Guidance on telephone advice fees

[7] SRA Standards and Regulations — File Retention Requirements

[8] Submit a Bulk Claim (SaBC) guidance — gov.uk/guidance/submit-a-bulk-claim-sabc — Launched 4 February 2026

[9] LAA Fee Uplift FAQs — Published December 2025

Disclaimer: This article provides general guidance only. Rates and regulations are subject to change. Always refer to current legislation, the Standard Crime Contract 2025, and LAA guidance. Consult your supervisor on complex claims.

Article revised: 8 February 2026 to reflect the harmonised fee structure introduced by SI 2025/1251.