Warren: ministers 'cannot hide' Criminal defence solicitors have this week warned that the government's tough new crime reforms will fall flat unless it backs up the initiatives with sufficient resources for legal aid.


The Home Office's five-year strategic plan spells out how extra money in last week's comprehensive spending review will be spent on more police and measures aimed at cutting down on offences relating to terrorism, anti-social behaviour, drugs and abuses of the asylum process. Extra funding will go on initiatives geared towards monitoring offenders and slashing the number of re-offenders. Victim and witness support will also receive a boost.



Home secretary David Blunkett said: 'We have made progress in recent years but we have more to do if we are to fully focus the criminal justice system on its true purpose - fighting and reducing crime and delivering justice on behalf of victims, defendants and the community.'



Criminal Law Solicitors Association director Rodney Warren said all citizens would welcome initiatives that worked to the benefit of public safety and cut down on 'loutish behaviour', although he added: 'Lawyers will be keen to make sure that justice is not sacrificed in the course of these initiatives.'



Mr Warren also backed new money for criminal defence solicitors dealing with the most serious offences, which will amount to up to £10 an hour extra (see "Legal aid: £6m boost but MPs fear crisis"). But he warned that the increases might not be enough to cope with the impact of Mr Blunkett's changes on their work in police stations and courts. 'The government cannot hide any longer,' he argued. 'It has ensured that the fees we are paid are maintained year on year - it is not acceptable that there are no yearly inflationary increases.'