New Delhi: To boost criminal legal aid, the UK government has announced a £24 million funding boost, with a significant proportion of the money going towards increasing pay for legal aid lawyers working in police stations and youth courts, a government press release stated.
The Ministry of Justice announced the uplift Thursday, with £18.5 million allocated to increase police station fees and £5.1 million to boost pay for youth court legal aid work in the most serious cases. This increase will mean that solicitors taking on youth court legal aid work for the most serious offences will receive an additional £598.59 per case.
The government said the move was designed to tackle the crisis in the justice system and ensure cases can continue to be heard through the courts. It added that the £24 million was ‘the first step’ in its plans to support the sustainability of the criminal legal aid sector.
Solicitors who work or commute to work in areas with fewer than two legal aid providers will also have their travel time reimbursed, as will those based on the Isle of Wight. The government has allocated £400,000 to cover the costs.
Shabana Mahmood, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, stated: “Criminal legal aid solicitors play a crucial role in our justice system, often handling complex cases under difficult conditions.
“This government is committed to improving the criminal legal aid sector that was neglected for years. This is the first step to stabilizing the sector and ensuring fair compensation for caseworkers.