Budgets for each government department have been set out in
today's Spending Review (11 June).
Law Society of England and Wales president Richard Atkinson said:
“Today's Spending Review gives the public hope that the justice
system is a growing priority for the government.
“Funding this essential public service is vital for a fair and
just society.
“However, all parts of the justice system have been starved of
investment for decades. It will take long-term sustained funding
to fix it, including in civil and criminal legal aid to address
the crises there.
“The consequences of the neglect are plain for all to see. There
are crumbling court rooms and antiquated IT systems, huge
backlogs delaying criminal court cases to 2029 and thousands of
children in legal limbo due to family court delays. Prisons are
overcrowded and there are chronic shortages of legal aid lawyers.
“Families, victims and business need justice to be prioritised.
The government must invest across the system, reducing pressure
on the courts, by focusing on early advice and out of court
resolution. We also need proper funding of solutions that will
reduce the prison population and improve rehabilitation to break
the cycle of reoffending.
“We can only maintain our reputation as a global legal centre and
the legal sector continue to be a crucial part of the UK's
economy if the justice system is properly funded.”
