Following a 95% vote in favour, London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association (LCCSA) members are refusing to take on burglary instructions from 25 May. This is likely to result in magistrates’ court cases collapsing due to defendants being unable to access a lawyer.
Members may expand to other categories of ‘uneconomic’ cases in future, if demands are not met.
LCCSA president Hesham Puri said defence solicitors taking on low-paid cases like burglary ‘end up paying for the “privilege” to work. Our goodwill has run out.’
Puri said: ‘The public shouldn’t be fooled, there is no recovery plan for justice and the courts. There is no meaningful commitment to law and order.’
Meanwhile, the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has said it may escalate its ‘no returns’ policy (https://bit.ly/3z1TxwD).
In a message to members this week, CBA chair Jo Sidhu QC said: ‘Over the last fortnight, we have received numerous emails and calls from criminal barristers at all levels of seniority expressing their dismay at the intransigence of government in the face of our concerted efforts to slow the progression of cases in the Crown Court.
‘The CBA has never ruled out an escalation of action if such a course is mandated by our membership. The recent feedback we have received from many members indicates a willingness and desire to adopt more disruptive forms of action in conjunction with the current strategy.’
Both solicitors and barristers want ministers to implement Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid chair, Sir Christopher Bellamy’s recommendations for an immediate increase of at least 15% in funding. In particular, the LCCSA is calling for a 25% increase in magistrates’ court fees and the CBA for a 25% increase in advocacy fees.
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