[2025] EWCA Crim 1289

The application for costs:

At the conclusion of the substantive appeal hearing, the private prosecutors indicated that they wished to claim their costs from central funds. They were directed to, and did, make their costs application in writing to the Registrar of Criminal Appeals (“the Registrar”). They have provided summaries and schedules of the work done by the solicitors and by counsel in relation to the abuse application in the Crown Court and the appeal to this court. They claim a total sum of £187,970. They ask the court either to order costs summarily assessed in that sum, or to order that the amount of the costs be assessed.

Before summarising the competing submissions of the private prosecutors and the Lord Chancellor, we set out the legal framework.