NEARLY 2,500 barristers who are essential to the criminal justice system in England and Wales are starting industrial action over concerns about legal aid funding reports the BBC.
They will refuse to step in at the last minute to pick up court appearances or preparatory work for colleagues whose cases are over-running.
It stems from an unresolved row with the government over funding.
The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has accused ministers of dragging their feet over implementing a 15% rise in rates for legal aid – as recommended by an independent review.
The CBA said 15% was the bare minimum needed to prevent the system from collapsing.
Figures published last week revealed that 10% of criminal barristers have quit in the past year, and that the government’s measures to reduce a nationwide backlog are making slow progress.
The action, supported by about 90% of criminal barristers, will begin this morning.
An independent review last year warned that courts could grind to a haltwithout an immediate injection of £135m into the legal aid system.
The review, launched after predictions the system could collapse, determined that ministers should find the funding to reverse a large loss of lawyers who are vital to the process.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61062627
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