- Up to £34 million investment to bolster criminal legal
aid and support frontline justice
- Enhanced pay for serious sexual offence cases to
speed up justice for victims
- Part of the Government's plan to build a stronger,
sustainable justice system
Victims could see swifter justice as a legal aid boost of up
to £34 million a year will help strengthen the legal sector,
enabling more cases to be heard and driving down the court
backlog.
Under proposals published today, barristers undertaking legal aid
work will receive an average fee increase of 11 per cent,
recognising their vital role in delivering justice and supporting
efforts to tackle court delays.
Barristers handling rape and serious sexual offence cases will
see fee increases of more than 13 per cent, rising to almost 50
per cent in some guilty plea cases. The changes reflect the
complexity of this work and support the Government's mission to
halve violence against women and girls within a decade by helping
victims access swifter justice.
This investment which includes £3.5 million
already allocated to preparatory fees
to assist with trial readiness will help ensure
criminal legal aid continues to attract
and retain talented barristers, strengthening capacity
across the legal sector and enabling more criminal cases to be
heard. In turn, this will help to cut the court backlog and
ensure victims get their day in court.
The whole package will contribute to rebuilding a
criminal legal aid sector weakened by years of underinvestment,
backing talented legal experts at the heart of the justice system
while helping victims and supporting defendants to access the
high-quality representation.
Minister for Courts and Legal Services, 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 is also consulting on higher fees for barristers
where defendants enter guilty pleas, and for plea and trial
preparation hearings, recognising the crucial work undertaken
before a case reaches trial.
Further proposals include fee increases for appeals in the
magistrates' courts and Court of Appeal, committals for sentence,
post-sentencing hearings in the Crown Court, and selected
pre-trial hearings. The reforms will better reflect the
complexity, expertise and preparation these cases
demand, while supporting junior barristers and helping to build a
stronger, more sustainable pipeline of legal talent.
With more than 80,000 cases in the Crown Court backlog, this
investment is a key step towards restoring capacity, keeping
cases moving through the courts and delivering swifter justice
for victims.
The announcement comes alongside the Courts and Tribunals Bill
which will help deliver the pragmatic reforms needed to cut the
Crown Court backlog to ensure fairer and faster justice for
victims.
