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Government Announces £34 Million Legal Aid Investment
Government Announces £34 Million Legal Aid Investment to deliver swifter access to justice for victims
The Ministry of Justice has unveiled plans to invest up to £34 million annually in criminal legal aid, with a particular focus on supporting barristers who handle rape and serious sexual offence cases. The measures are designed to strengthen the legal sector, increase court capacity and help reduce the Crown Court backlog, which currently stands at more than 80,000 cases.
Under the proposals, barristers undertaking legal aid work will receive an average fee increase of 11%, while those working on rape and serious sexual offence cases will see fee increases of more than 13%, with some guilty plea cases receiving increases of almost 50%.
Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC MP said,
‘Victims deserve to see justice delivered without unnecessary delay. That’s why we are investing up to £34 million a year in criminal legal aid, supporting the barristers who keep cases moving through the courts and help ensure offenders are brought to justice.
This investment will strengthen the legal aid sector, enable more cases to be heard and help cut the court backlog, ensuring victims receive swifter justice.’
The Government says the investment will help attract and retain skilled legal professionals, enabling more cases to be heard and helping victims receive justice more quickly.
For survivors of sexual abuse, lengthy delays in the criminal justice process have a significant emotional and psychological impact. Many victims face months, and sometimes years, waiting for their cases to reach court. These delays worsen trauma, affect wellbeing and lead some individuals to disengage from the justice process altogether.
The victims we work with feel very cynical about the government’s desire and ability to change things. They’ve been promised improvements so many times and always let down. This cynicism is merited given that this initiative has been launched in the same week when the Government announced the early release of child rapists, grooming gang members, and sex offenders.
Neil Henderson CEO SafelineThe announcement forms part of the Government’s wider efforts to build a stronger and more sustainable justice system. Alongside the investment, the Government has launched consultations on additional fee increases for barristers undertaking guilty plea work, appeal cases and other complex hearings, as well as introducing legislative reforms through the Courts and Tribunals Bill.
Safeline will continue to champion the voices of survivors and support efforts to ensure that victims of sexual abuse and sexual violence can access justice without unnecessary delay.