£195k rail bill for judges to ride 1st-class
JUDGES are racking up huge bills for first-class rail travel, figures show.
In the six months to September, they paid out £195,000 for train fares.
If spending continues at that rate, the yearly total could top £390,000 – up £260,000 on last year.
Official figures show that in 2020/21, when most courts were shut, the bill still hit £140,000.
A judiciary spokesman said first-class travel allows judges to work on their way to hearings.
But Rachel Almeida, of Victim Support, said: “The fact court delays have been worsening as spending on this luxury has been going up does seem perverse.”
In August, outstanding crown court cases hit a record 61,202 in England and Wales.