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Criminal barristers voted by a narrow margin to accept the government’s fee offer and end its protest action.
In the ballot, 3,038 barristers voted by 1,566 (51.55%) to 1,472 (48.45%) to accept the offer to put £15m into the revised Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) with a 1% fee rise in April 2019.
Since the reformed AGFS payments were introduced in April most criminal barristers have refused to take new cases. Moves to up their action were put on hold pending a vote on the government’s offer.
Angela Rafferty QC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said: ‘Whilst the majority wishes to accept the proposal, it cannot be said that the anger and disillusionment has gone away. Indeed it is exceptionally strong. The criminal Bar is not going to be quiet.’
She said investment in the AGFS scheme was the ‘first step in a long road to rehabilitation’ for the criminal justice system. She said: ‘The damage done in recent decades will not be undone in weeks, or perhaps years. This proposal is the beginning and not the end of our campaign to improve the broken system we all work in every day.’
Rafferty added: ‘This outcome is neither a defeat nor a victory. The criminal Bar has faced degradation and despair and it still does. This is a step forward. We must all ensure we do not take any more steps back.’
She announced a campaign to improve the lot of prosecutors, whom she said for too long ‘have tolerated the intolerable too’. The failings within the Crown Prosecution Service were highlighted again when the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, revealed that almost 50 rape and sexual assault cases had been discontinued due to disclosure failings.
Bar Chair, Andrew Walker QC said the vote would end action in the short term, but added: ‘Let there be no doubt that the closeness of the vote reflects the very real frustration, anger and concern for the future across the criminal Bar.’
He said: ‘Those voting to accept the Ministry of Justice’s proposal did not do so because they thought that it was a long term solution, any more than did those who voted to reject it. The changes are just a patch repair.
‘The situation in the criminal justice system remains dire. Addressing the crisis is still urgent.’
He warned that if sufficient change was not seen, ‘barristers will no doubt consider once more what steps they can take to make sure that our voice is heard’.
Criminal barristers voted by a narrow margin to accept the government’s fee offer and end its protest action.
In the ballot, 3,038 barristers voted by 1,566 (51.55%) to 1,472 (48.45%) to accept the offer to put £15m into the revised Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) with a 1% fee rise in April 2019.
Since the reformed AGFS payments were introduced in April most criminal barristers have refused to take new cases. Moves to up their action were put on hold pending a vote on the government’s offer.
Angela Rafferty QC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said: ‘Whilst the majority wishes to accept the proposal, it cannot be said that the anger and disillusionment has gone away. Indeed it is exceptionally strong. The criminal Bar is not going to be quiet.’
She said investment in the AGFS scheme was the ‘first step in a long road to rehabilitation’ for the criminal justice system. She said: ‘The damage done in recent decades will not be undone in weeks, or perhaps years. This proposal is the beginning and not the end of our campaign to improve the broken system we all work in every day.’
Rafferty added: ‘This outcome is neither a defeat nor a victory. The criminal Bar has faced degradation and despair and it still does. This is a step forward. We must all ensure we do not take any more steps back.’
She announced a campaign to improve the lot of prosecutors, whom she said for too long ‘have tolerated the intolerable too’. The failings within the Crown Prosecution Service were highlighted again when the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, revealed that almost 50 rape and sexual assault cases had been discontinued due to disclosure failings.
Bar Chair, Andrew Walker QC said the vote would end action in the short term, but added: ‘Let there be no doubt that the closeness of the vote reflects the very real frustration, anger and concern for the future across the criminal Bar.’
He said: ‘Those voting to accept the Ministry of Justice’s proposal did not do so because they thought that it was a long term solution, any more than did those who voted to reject it. The changes are just a patch repair.
‘The situation in the criminal justice system remains dire. Addressing the crisis is still urgent.’
He warned that if sufficient change was not seen, ‘barristers will no doubt consider once more what steps they can take to make sure that our voice is heard’.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
