PCS Union responds to Government's prisons and courts bill

The government’s efforts to reform the justice system will be undermined by continued budget cuts, the Public and Commercial Services union warns as ministers publish plans for prisons and courts.

In recent years violence and unrest in prisons have escalated, and access to justice has been restricted by waves of courts closures, cuts to legal aid and the introduction of fees for tribunals.

The union is not opposed to increasing the use of technology in courts, but says this must not be at the expense of fair and open justice.

The justice system needs to be more integrated, the union says, with better coordination across public services including health services, education, local government, and community groups.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Existing problems in our justice system have been caused by years of spending cuts, so will never be fixed until these are reversed. Whether prisons, courts or education, our public services are crying out for investment.”