The criminal justice system will have lost over 2,000 duty solicitors in a decade by 2027, the Law Society has predicted. With the number of arrests on the rise, a ‘perfect storm’ is on the horizon.

According to data published by Chancery Lane today, the number of duty solicitors has plummeted by 1,446 since 2017. Another 618 could be gone by 2027.

The Society says the decline comes at a time when, according to Home Office stop and search data published last October, arrests have risen for the first time in seven years. In 2021, the Home Office predicted that the recruitment of an extra 20,000 police officers could lead to an additional 729,000 cases entering the system by 2030.

Analysis carried out by the Society suggests there will be fewer duty solicitors registered on schemes in 42 out of 43 police areas. Cumbria, Dorset and Gloucestershire will be among the worst hit.

Society president Lubna Shuja said: ‘Our projections show the widescale collapse of duty solicitor schemes across England and Wales is ever more likely. Combined with more police officers and cases, this is creating a perfect storm in criminal justice that will affect victims of crime, witnesses and society as a whole.

‘Already, we are hearing from our members that they are struggling to cover duty schemes. We are also hearing of instances where the police are being forced to release suspects because interviews are unable to progress without legal representation.’

With duty solicitor numbers plummeting, Shuja questioned who will represent all the additional detainees entering the system. ‘Across the country, duty solicitors are working day and night providing legal advice at the crucial earliest stage of cases at police stations, ensuring access to justice for all. But there simply aren’t enough of them to go round because the work is not financially viable.’

Chancery Lane renewed its call on the government to implement all the urgent recommendations of the Bellamy criminal legal aid review in full.

 

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