Government reveals extra funding plans for criminal justice system

The government’s plans for how an extra £15 million into the criminal justice system will be spent have been revealed, with critics claiming that junior barristers stand to lose out to their senior colleagues.

Strike action by criminal defence barristers in protest at the Ministry of Justice’s underfunding of the justice system forced the government into agreeing to extra “investment” earlier this year. Now, as the Law Gazette reports, the government is set to increase fees by 10-15% in the following areas:

• sexual offences involving children;
• dishonesty offences; and
• drugs offences.

Basic fees for all barristers, including juniors, are also to increase by 1% across all types of offence.

However, Christina Blacklaws, president of the Law Society, warned that the proposals will “worsen the recruitment crisis in the profession” by exacerbating the problem of money filtering up to senior levels, starving juniors of their means to build viable careers at the bar.

Blacklaws added: “We’re glad the government recognises that remuneration for criminal defence services needs to increase. It is disappointing that the Ministry of Justice has not taken the opportunity to review fees across both parts of the system as part of a coherent plan for addressing this crisis. Solicitor advocates are also impacted by these changes and it is vital the MoJ consults properly with all affected stakeholders on how the £15 million is to be distributed.”

Lucy Frazer, justice minister representing the government, said: “We have worked closely with the leaders of the Bar Council and Criminal Bar Association to address concerns raised over the Advocates Graduated Fee Scheme and we now welcome the thoughts of the wider legal professions on the revised scheme. We are committed to working with the sector to support and strengthen the criminal advocacy profession and will listen carefully to the responses we receive.”