Citizens Advice warns that the impact of fresh legal aid cuts will be felt far beyond criminal courts

Unintended consequences of criminal legal aid cuts could harm innocent people

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of national charity Citizens Advice, today warns that innocent people could be “the real losers” from proposed reforms to criminal legal aid.

In evidence presented to the Ministry of Justice, Gillian Guy cautions that new cutbacks in state funding for legal advice would compound previous spending cuts, and lead to “justice deserts”.  The charity suggests that local authority funding reductions and recent cuts to civil legal aid may mean more and more legal firms find they are unable to cope financially and are forced to close.

In its recommendations, Citizens Advice suggests that the proposed reduction in funding available to law firms for criminal cases could have the unintended consequence of reducing access to advice for anyone seeking professional guidance on any legal matter, including complex and sensitive family issues such as custody rights.

The charity is concerned that the side-effects of planned cuts to criminal legal aid funding may be felt far beyond criminal cases, and could be “the straw that breaks the back of universal justice” if funding cuts mean the mass closure of law firms who in the past would have delivered advice.

The charity’s evidence outlines fears that proposals to pay solicitors fixed amounts will mean it is more cost-effective for them to represent people who plead guilty, and that complex cases where innocent people need time to prove their innocence will be less lucrative than those where an individual immediately admits their guilt.  

On behalf of Citizens Advice, Gillian Guy said:

“Further cuts to legal aid funding threaten the fundamental principle of the universal right to access justice.  The Government’s consultation is focused on criminal cases but if people simply can’t talk to a solicitor as more and more firms are forced to close, then the knock-on effects could be devastating for everyone in society, not just the individuals facing charges.

“By cutting funding, the number of legal firms capable of delivering advice could be drastically reduced and leave innocent, desperate people stranded in justice deserts.  The real losers from the planned changes won’t just be the individuals on trial, but families dealing with stressful and potentially expensive issues like custody disputes, who may find that legal help is just not available.  

“Citizens Advice campaigns to make society fairer, and a justice system accessible to all is the cornerstone of that.  I am extremely concerned that the planned changes could be the straw that finally breaks the back of universal justice”.

Notes to editors:

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk
4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.