*/
Criminal Bar leaders have called on politicians to invest in the justice system.
Francis FitzGibbon QC and Angela Rafferty QC, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said that after Brexit, the legal system as a whole will be among the UK’s most prestigious and important assets.
The rule of law, they said, depends on a properly funded court system, with careers as lawyers and judges open to talent – without restriction by class, ethnicity or wealth.
But, they said: ‘Governments for at least 25 years have allowed criminal justice to degrade, from the police service, through the publicly funded part of the legal profession, the courts, to the prisons and the probation service.
‘Violent crime is rising and the system is dealing with a tsunami of highly sensitive sex cases, which are set to occupy it for years to come – it is imperative that enough investment is put in, across the sector, to ensure that the rights of victims and defendants are upheld.’
If £3bn can be found to repair the Houses of Parliament, the pair said, money must be available to invest in justice: ‘It is not an optional extra, but an essential element in a fair and tolerant society.’
They called on the next government to reverse the legal aid cuts, support the independent criminal Bar, repair the collapsing fabric of court buildings and retain the Human Rights Act as a powerful protector of victims.
Criminal Bar leaders have called on politicians to invest in the justice system.
Francis FitzGibbon QC and Angela Rafferty QC, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said that after Brexit, the legal system as a whole will be among the UK’s most prestigious and important assets.
The rule of law, they said, depends on a properly funded court system, with careers as lawyers and judges open to talent – without restriction by class, ethnicity or wealth.
But, they said: ‘Governments for at least 25 years have allowed criminal justice to degrade, from the police service, through the publicly funded part of the legal profession, the courts, to the prisons and the probation service.
‘Violent crime is rising and the system is dealing with a tsunami of highly sensitive sex cases, which are set to occupy it for years to come – it is imperative that enough investment is put in, across the sector, to ensure that the rights of victims and defendants are upheld.’
If £3bn can be found to repair the Houses of Parliament, the pair said, money must be available to invest in justice: ‘It is not an optional extra, but an essential element in a fair and tolerant society.’
They called on the next government to reverse the legal aid cuts, support the independent criminal Bar, repair the collapsing fabric of court buildings and retain the Human Rights Act as a powerful protector of victims.
Chair of the Bar reports back
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
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
A career shaped by advocacy beyond her practice, and the realities of living with an invisible disability – Dr Natasha Shotunde, Black Barristers’ Network Co-Founder and its Chair for seven years, reflects on a decade at the Bar
Responding to criticism on the narrow profile of government-instructed counsel, Mel Nebhrajani CB describes the system-wide change at GLD to drive fairer distribution of work and broader development of talent
The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines
