A fuel injector for a compression ignition internal combustion engine, the fuel injector comprising: a fuel injection valve having an injection valve member moveable, in use, under the influence of fuel pressure within a control chamber acting upon it, between a closed position and an open position; a high pressure fuel supply channel to the control chamber; a fuel outlet channel leading from the control chamber to a low pressure reservoir or drain; an actuator operable to open and close a discharge valve located in the fuel outlet channel; a moveable plate located in the control chamber and arranged to move into and out of contact with a sealing surface of the control chamber; a spill orifice provided in the moveable plate and arranged to communicate with the fuel outlet channel when the moveable plate is located in contact with the sealing surface of the control chamber, the spill orifice defining a restricted flow path for fuel to flow out of the control chamber to the fuel outlet channel; and an inlet orifice provided in the moveable plate and arranged to communicate with the high pressure fuel supply channel when the moveable plate is located in contact with the sealing surface of the control chamber, the inlet orifice defining a restricted flow path for fuel to flow from the high pressure fuel supply channel into the control chamber characterised in that the moveable plate is configured such that one or more additional fluid passages (60a, 60b, 62a, 62b), defined at least in part by formations such as flats or grooves (60a, 60b, 62a, 62b) in a periphery of the moveable plate, are between the control chamber and the high pressure fuel supply channel to permit fuel flow therethrough when the moveable plate is moved out of contact with the sealing surface of the control chamber. a fuel injection valve having an injection valve member moveable, in use, under the influence of fuel pressure within a control chamber acting upon it, between a closed position and an open position; a high pressure fuel supply channel to the control chamber; a fuel outlet channel leading from the control chamber to a low pressure reservoir or drain; an actuator operable to open and close a discharge valve located in the fuel outlet channel; a moveable plate located in the control chamber and arranged to move into and out of contact with a sealing surface of the control chamber; a spill orifice provided in the moveable plate and arranged to communicate with the fuel outlet channel when the moveable plate is located in contact with the sealing surface of the control chamber, the spill orifice defining a restricted flow path for fuel to flow out of the control chamber to the fuel outlet channel; and an inlet orifice provided in the moveable plate and arranged to communicate with the high pressure fuel supply channel when the moveable plate is located in contact with the sealing surface of the control chamber, the inlet orifice defining a restricted flow path for fuel to flow from the high pressure fuel supply channel into the control chamber characterised in that the moveable plate is configured such that one or more additional fluid passages (60a, 60b, 62a, 62b), defined at least in part by formations such as flats or grooves (60a, 60b, 62a, 62b) in a periphery of the moveable plate, are between the control chamber and the high pressure fuel supply channel to permit fuel flow therethrough when the moveable plate is moved out of contact with the sealing surface of the control chamber.