Cuts
CPS cuts will put justice for the vulnerable at risk, says Law Society
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The Law Society has condemned government plans to cut costs at the Crown Prosecution Service as "wholly unacceptable".
The budget cuts were revealed today in a copy of the CPS's draft submission to the Treasury, which the Guardian has seen. They are the first indication from any Whitehall department of the impact of the 25% and 40% indicative cuts in budgets.
Suggestions in the submission for putting a greater emphasis on "virtual courts", paralegals and associate prosecutors would put access to justice at risk, the Law Society warned, and cost the government more in the end.
"Greater emphasis on paralegals and associate prosecutors is a false economy," said Law Society president Linda Lee. "We receive regular reports from our members all over the country that the use of associate prosecutors frequently results in unnecessary adjournments and wasted costs as they are unable to make decisions to dispose of cases. Those decisions have to be referred back to their superiors at the CPS.
"Such delays and setbacks are not only costly for the CPS, but for legal aid and the court service. It would be wholly unacceptable for one government agency to seek to meet its savings targets by dumping costs onto others that are also having to find savings.
She added: "The ultimate losers from these plans for the CPS to slash its budget are the vulnerable clients in need of help dealing with housing, mental health and domestic violence. Access to justice is at risk from these kinds of reforms."
The CPS's submission to the attorney general's office also outlined job cuts of 1,820 – 22% of the total staff – over the next four years. It said a 25% budget cut would "damage frontline services" and "delay and possibly deny justice".
The Law Society is urging the government to find savings elsewhere in the criminal justice system, such as in very high cost cases.
(Published by The Guardian – July 15, 2010)