Your article ‘Dial J for Justice’ claims CDS Direct saves money (see [2009] Gazette, 5 February, 10). John Sirodcar [director of national accounts at the Legal Services Commission] says they get £18 or £19 a call as opposed to £30.25 in private practice – giving a £1m saving.

The article starts with an example where CDS Direct realises the case is more serious and deploys a local solicitor. CDS Direct will keep its fee, but if this had been directed to private practice immediately there would be no cost as the telephone calls are wrapped up in the fixed fee.

This is common. This waste of fees needs to be added to the base cost of CDS Direct.

Moreover, before CDS Direct was introduced, the police rang the solicitor directly with own-client matters. Now, every own-client matter has to go via FirstAssist. Since I do not imagine this is a free service, the cost of referring every case needs to be added to the base fee of the smaller number of CDS Direct cases to give a true cost. Where are the savings?

As for the £7m allegedly saved by no longer sending solicitors, solicitors only gave telephone advice on the kind of cases dealt with by CDS Direct even before the scheme was introduced. Therefore, no case would be referred to CDS Direct where previously a solicitor would be paid to attend. Where are the savings?

There is no justification for preventing solicitors from advising their own clients.

Kevin Blount, Howard & Byrne, York