Legal aid cuts storing up social problems for tomorrow
Press release
13 September 2011
Legal aid cuts storing up social problems for tomorrow
· Law Society and JustRights report indicates government is storing up problems for tomorrow’s youth rather than resolving them today
· Children’s Commissioner and children’s charities unite to condemn plans
Children and young people in the UK will be hit hard by the government’s plans to cut the legal aid budget by £350million, according to findings from a new report released today.
Figures from the ‘Not Seen and Not Heard’ report reveal the government’s planned legal aid cuts will remove direct free legal aid advice and support services for 6,000 under 18 year olds and 69,000 young Britons aged between 18-24 who want to resolve issues relating to employment, education, homelessness, welfare and debt. In addition, tens of thousands of children will be affected when their parents lose access to legal aid.
Launched by legal aid campaign group Sound Off For Justice and JustRights, the campaign for access to advice for young people, the report reveals the bleak future awaiting Britain’s youth. Analysis reveals over one-third (36%) of the UK population classified as homeless in March 2011 were aged between 16-24. This is coupled with the latest unemployment figures from the Department of Work & Pensions showing over one-fifth (21%) of 16-24 year olds is currently out of work.
The report’s figures also highlight how an additional 140,000 children will be affected by legal aid support being removed for their parents. 68,000 will be affected by family contact and finance disputes, whilst another 36,700 will be impacted by legal aid being removed for welfare benefit cases. In addition, thousands more children will be adversely affected by the removal or reduction in the scope of legal aid for other categories such as education, clinical negligence and housing.
Along with this removal of legal aid services and support, the government is proceeding with further cuts to other areas that will impact the UK’s youth. 45,000 young people will lose access to voluntary youth sector advice services this year, whilst funding for the Connexions advice service for 13-19 year olds is being cut by nearly 40% (£180 million).
In the wake of England’s recent riots, the ‘Not Seen and Not Heard’ report reveals the link between civil legal problems and crime rates, in addition to emotional and mental health problems.
55% of 16-24 year olds who had recently been arrested reported experiencing at least one ‘difficult to solve’ civil justice problem, whilst 34% of 18-24 year olds not in education, training or employment reported stress-related illness as a result; with more than a third going on to use NHS services.
The report warns these legal aid cuts could cost the government more in the long run if crucial free support and assistance is taken away from Britain’s youth. Research from the Citizens Advice Bureaux shows the benefit of dealing with issues such as employment and welfare benefits immediately, as every £1 spent on legal aid support saves the government £8 further down the line.
As the Bill is debated in Parliament, children’s advocates are lining up to condemn the impact of the changes on children and young people.
Sue Berelowitz, Deputy Children’s Commissioner for England, said:
“The proposed changes to legal aid will significantly disadvantage tens of thousands of children and young people who will be left to fight legal problems without proper professional representation. This will include children who suffer an injury, children with special educational needs or subject to deportation or those facing problems with employment or welfare benefits. These are just some of the many children and young people who seek assistance or support through legal aid to help them with a problem that requires a legal resolution.
"We have raised our concerns with the Ministry of Justice about the impact of the proposed changes to legal aid on children's lives. The removal of legal aid will mean that these children are left to navigate alone a legal system that is designed for adults. Denying them professional representation is a denial of justice. All children must be helped to have their voice heard in accordance with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UK Government is a signatory to the Convention, therefore any proposals to reform the legal aid system should take account of the child’s perspective in compliance with the Convention."
Alison Garnham. CEO of the Child Poverty Action Group added:
“The report makes a powerful case against the legal aid cuts which will adversely affect an estimated 200,000 children, leaving them "alone in a legal system designed for adults"; facing exploitation in employment, exclusion from schools, deprivationfrom benefit entitlement, deportation from the UK, all without advice and representation, and leaving juvenile victims of crime withoutcompensation. This isn't justice, and the government is storing up trouble for the future by depriving children and young people of advice on their rights.”
Des Hudson, Chief Executive of the Law Society, comments: “This reports highlights how a large portion of our youth, who may already feel marginalised and isolated, will be punished further if the government’s planned £350 million cuts to legal aid go ahead. Young people with problems such as employment and welfare should be given the correct legal aid advice and support today. If not, we will only be storing problem and further costs, that the government will have to pick up tomorrow.”
Mandy Wilkins from the Law Centres Federation, and James Kenrick, from Youth Access, co-ordinators of the JustRights campaign, said: “It would cost just £10m to protect all children in the legal system, and only an additional £40m to protect young people up to age 25. Government can afford to secure access to justice for children and young people. It can't afford not to."
Sound Off For Justice and JustRights are proposing amendments to the Legal Aid, Punishment and Sentencing of Offenders Bill, currently in Committee Stage in the House of Commons that would protect access to justice for children and young people. Sound Off for Justice have also proposed alternative reforms that will protect key areas such as employment, education, private family, clinical negligence, welfare and housing civil legal aid cases from being taken out of scope, ensuring 725,000 Britons can still access justice and are not silenced in court.
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Summary
· 6,000 children under 18 and 69,000 Britons aged between 18-24 years of age will no longer be able to access free legal advice and support for cases involving employment, homelessness and welfare under government plans
· 36% of those classified as homeless in the most recent figures were aged between 16 and 24.
· 21% of people aged between 16-24 years of age are unemployed
· 55% of 16 – 24 year olds who have recently been arrested have reported experiencing at least one ‘difficult’ to solve civil justice problem
· Connexions advice and support services for 13-19 year olds are being cut by 40%
· 45,000 young Britons will lose access to voluntary sector youth advice services
· 68,000 children will be affected by legal aid being removed for family contact and finance disputes
· 36,000 children will be affected by legal aid being removed for welfare benefit cases
· The Law Centres Federation estimates the government’s planned legal aid cuts could result in 18 of the 56 UK Law Centres closing
By-Line
Sound Off For Justice is a public campaign promoting alternative reforms to Legal Aid. Visit www.soundoffforjustice.org for more details.
JustRights is a coalition of over 30 organisations, co-ordinated by the Law Centres Federation and Youth Access, which campaigns for fair access to legal advice and representation children and young people within the legal system.
Contact
For Press Office / Further Information / Interviews
Keji Olutimayin T: 020 7440 9814 M: 07841708404
[email protected]
Natalie Wheeler T: 0207 440 9819 M: 07899651313
[email protected]
Editor’s Notes
Sound Off For Justice (SOFJ) is a campaign that wants to make a noise for all those who will be silenced in court if the Government’s proposals go ahead. SOFJ believes that a ubiquitous and fundamental rule for a civilised society is that everyone has a right to legal representation. With these principles and knowing the state of the country’s economic position, Sound
Off For Justice has put forward a selection of positive reforms that would allow the areas currently proposed not to be scrapped allowing the country’s most vulnerable and needy to still have access to justice when they need it the most. Justice cannot be a right for the wealthy few, but for the whole of this country – after all it is our social standards that made this country Great Britain. Sound Off For Justice is a sister campaign of Justice For All.
Find out more at www.soundoffforjustice.org
JustRights is a coalition of over 30 organisations, co-ordinated by the Law Centres Federation and Youth Access. It is working to provide a legal system that provides rare and ready access to high quality independent legal advice, and representation for all children and young people whenever they need it, alongside recognition of children and young people’s distinct needs for support in exercising their legal rights. More information is at www.justrights.org.uk