Lawyers in Newcastle claimed a victory over Foreign Office red tape this week after the British High Commission in Nairobi reconsidered its decision to refuse visas to two Kenyan lawyers following representations made by Crutes and other local firms.

The lawyers are part of a delegation of seven coming to Britain for a two-week trip in September organised by the Rift Valley Newcastle Justice Project, in conjunction with Newcastle Law Society.


In a letter to Paul Bell, director of the project and a partner at Crutes, the High Commission stated the pair had been refused visas because they had not provided sufficient documentary evidence of their intention to return to Kenya after the visit. But in view of the representations made and support for the applicants, the commission relented.


Mr Bell said: 'It is a relief. If the trip had been cancelled, it would have been a real blow to the excellent work taking place to help children get proper access to legal aid in Kenya.'


In Britain the group will attend the Commonwealth Law 2005 conference, meet EU justice ministers, judges and magistrates, and receive child liaison training from Northumbria Police. The association between Newcastle Law Society and the Rift Valley Law Society began in 1998 as a twinning arrangement. This led to the project, which represents young people detained in Kenya.