Strike threat on rates

Duty solicitors in Brighton are to mount a 24-hour strike unless the Legal Services Commission 'comes clean' over criminal contract payment rates.

During a meeting last week, 46 duty solicitors from the area agreed to refuse any new cases referred to them through duty solicitor schemes in courts or police stations for 24 hours from 9am on 14 November.

Steve Wedd, a partner at Brighton-based Wedd Daniel and former chairman of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association, said the strike would be called off if the Commission agreed to extend the consultation period for criminal contracting by three months after the remuneration rates are published.

He said that, 'however regrettable' it may be, solicitors could not be expected to respond to the consultation document without knowing the rates to be paid.

A Commission spokeswoman said it had worked hard to involve the profession in discussions about criminal contracting.

'We are disappointed to hear about this threatened action.

The only people who will be harmed by it are clients.'

Rodney Warren, chairman of the Law Society's access to justice working party, said that regardless of criminal contracting, if rates payment rates are not increased, practices would be in jeopardy.

Sue Allen