In recent weeks
and months the Government have produced proposals to dramatically change the
provision of Legal Aid in matters before the Criminal courts. This has received
wide press coverage and has been heavily criticised by lawyers, Judges and
other professionals. It is argued that the proposals will have a drastic effect
on the operation of the Criminal Justice System as a whole and will lead to
innocent people being left unrepresented.
At Allington Hughes we have been involved in many efforts to try to persuade the Government
to realise that the proposals will cause irreparable damage to the Criminal
Justice System, but unfortunately they remain determined.
The changes do
not just affect matters before the Criminal Courts, there have been changes
to many other areas of law such as assistance for victims of domestic violence
and bringing Judicial Review proceedings to challenge unlawful actions by the
state. These changes will prevent many people having a voice and render them
unable to fight for their fundamental freedoms as human beings.
At Allington Hughes we have a long history of providing legally aided assistance to many
different people from all walks of life, who unfortunately find themselves in
need of advice. Often it is due to circumstances they never thought they would
have found themselves in. This is why the maintenance of a Legal Aid system is
vitally important to everyone in our country.
The Justice
Alliance UK have recently published a video which helpfully shows that the
changes could affect everyone in some way or another. For anyone who has read
the recent press reports and thought changes to Legal Aid do not affect them,
this video will certainly make them reconsider their position.
Please take the time to watch this video.
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| Stephen Fry supports the fight for Legal Aid. |
You can sign the petition to save Legal Aid here: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/david-cameron-uk-government-save-legal-aid-to-protect-access-to-justice-for-all
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