The London Borough of Camden has slashed £300,000 from its budget for legal advice services, prompting lawyers to warn that the cost-cutting measure could deny vulnerable members of the community access to justice.


Steve Hynes, director of the Law Centres Federation, said Camden Council had initially threatened to reduce funding for law centres and citizens' advice bureaux in the borough by 40% - 'a decision which would decimate excellent and much needed services'.



However, lobbying by councillors, lawyers and other supporters has persuaded it to reduce its spending by only 19% - or an estimated £300,000.



Camden tribunal unit manager Mike Haran said: 'The [reduced] cut in funding to advice agencies... will still lead to redundancies and cuts in services. This will happen at the same time that the Legal Services Commission is cutting legal aid payments in October 2007. We will therefore be hit with a double-whammy.'



Councillor Andrew Marshall, Camden's executive member for equalities and community development, insisted that it 'remains one of the country's most generous local authorities in its funding of the voluntary sector'.



He added: 'The new [negotiated funding] process and priorities are needs-led rather than organisation-led, which means they will make the money we spend go further and make more of a difference to residents.'



Jonathan Rayner