People accused of criminal offences were bullied into going ahead with their court cases without legal representation during a solicitors’ training day, it has been claimed.
At Bridlington Magistrates Court on Wednesday 22 May defendants who had travelled from the Driffield area were left without solicitors, some of whom were taking part in a nationwide training day in London surrounding the Government’s proposed cuts to legal aid.
A spokesperson for Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, said: “It was business as usual and there was minimal disruption.”
But a source at Bridlington magistrates’ court, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I thought people were being bullied into making a plea when they quite clearly said they wanted to speak to a solicitor.
“When someone is arrested by the police they have got a right to a solicitor.
“It was very unsavoury. Defendants were being bullied into proceeding without a solicitor when they clearly said they wanted one.”
Defence solicitors did not attend court on Wednesday due to a training day surrounding proposed changes to price competitive tendering for criminal legal aid work, which caused a shortage of solicitors able to attend court.
Victoria Lancaster, of Lancasters Solicitors, Bridlington, said: “It will remove the right of the individual to chose a lawyer to represent them bearing in mind they are not a criminal until they are convicted, they are a person.
“I am concerned that under the new proposals a person’s right to choose their own lawyer will go. Instead an accused person will be allocated the next lawyer on the list who may be travelling from miles away.
“Competition which maintains standards, will go. No one will have a lawyer who knows their history and problems. Remember that no one is a criminal unless convicted by the court. People acquitted often only reach that position because they have had quality legal representation from legal aid.
“Most importantly,the proposal takes away the fundamental right to free independent legal advice from a citizens chosen lawyer. This is very dangerous for all of us.
“We are dealing with people not numbers on a page. The cuts are proposed as part of the Ministry for Justice’s money saving strategy.”
Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said he is concerned the proposals will “sabotage the criminal justice system.”
He said: “We will be working together over the coming weeks and months to co-ordinate our campaigning work and efforts to protect the already hard pressed system.”
Were you a defendant at magistrates court on Wednesday 22 May? Get in touch with the Driffield Times & Post on 01377 249818 @driffieldnews or editorial@driffieldtoday.co.uk
