Criminal barristers have agreed to vote on ending strike action
to get justice moving for victims following discussions with Lord
Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon MP.
The Criminal Bar Association will re-ballot members following
meetings with the Lord Chancellor and his decision to offer a
package of further reforms and fee uplifts to criminal legal
aid. This represents further investment of £54 million
in the criminal bar and solicitors.
A planned 15 percent fee increase for criminal barristers
will now apply to the vast majority of cases currently in the
Crown Court. This will also apply to fee increases for solicitors
and is part of a wider package of proposals announced by the
government today (29 September 2022) to help tackle the court
backlog.
As part of the proposals, the Criminal Bar Association and
Bar Council have also committed to working together with the
government to reduce the courts backlog and increasing diversity
among barristers. Measures designed to reduce delays for victims,
such as increasing early resolution of cases, reducing the number
of ineffective trials and progressing cases between magistrates’
courts and the Crown Court, will be explored.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary said:
I greatly value the criminal bar and solicitors and the work they
do every day in our Crown and Magistrates Courts. They are
crucial to reducing the backlog.
My priority in these discussions has been to ensure that victims
aren’t forced to wait longer to see justice done.
These are generous proposals, and I would strongly urge all
members of the Criminal Bar Association to consider carefully,
end their strike and work with me to deliver better outcomes for
victims of crime.
The Ministry of Justice will make £3 million of funding available
for case preparation like written work and special
preparation. A further £4 million will be allocated to
defence barristers involved in pre-recorded cross-examinations,
which are used to reduce the trauma of a trial for vulnerable
victims and witnesses.
The Ministry of Justice is also proposing a £5 million uplift per
year for fees in the youth court, from the 2024/25 financial
year, expected to benefit both solicitors and some junior
barristers.
An Advisory Board on Criminal Legal Aid reform will hold its
first meeting in October, to discuss future proposals to improve
the system for legal professionals and victims in a constructive
way.
Further uplifts for solicitors will be announced in the weeks
ahead.
