CRIMINALS will pay up to £1.5 million more per year to help victims recover from the effects of crime and get on with their lives.

The victim surcharge, which has already raised around £51 million since 2010, is to be extended so that offenders given a custodial sentence at a magistrates' court will now be ordered to pay the surcharge.

The money raised is then used to help victims of rape, domestic violence, families bereaved by murder and fatal road traffic crimes.

The victims' minister Mike Penning said: "It is only right that offenders should pay both for their crimes and to help repair the damage they have done.

"I want all victims to get the support they need and deserve, whether through counselling, help through the criminal justice process or another form of support.”