Criminal legal aid
Gazette, Yahoo! UK and Ireland and County Press report that the government has announced a £24 million injection into criminal legal aid work in police stations and Youth Courts, as a first step in plans to support the sustainability of the criminal legal aid sector. Travel time will also be reimbursed for solicitors who work or commute to work in areas with fewer than two legal providers, as well as the Isle of Wight.
Law Society President Richard Atkinson said: “It is extremely encouraging that the lord chancellor sees the important role that solicitors play in our criminal justice system.
“The additional funding brings hope to the criminal defence profession as does her recognition that this is just the first step needed to stabilise the sector.
“We understand that the crisis cannot be solved overnight but the government should set out a timetable for further funding for criminal legal aid solicitors by the end of the year.”
Mental Health Bill
New Law Journal covers the publication of the Mental Health Bill, which modernises the law regarding detention and compulsory treatment.
President Richard Atkinson said: “We are pleased it protects patients from inappropriate detention and provides them with enough involvement and support in decisions about their care.
“We hope the Bill will give mental health patients access to justice, dignity and the respect they deserve. In the previous parliament, we had worked closely with the joint committee on the draft Mental Health Bill.
“We will continue to scrutinise the newly published Bill to ensure that it provides agency to individuals.”
TA6 conveyancing form
New Law Journal reports that we have extended the deadline to switch to the TA6 property information form, as conveyancers can continue to use both the 4th and 5th edition of the form beyond January 2025.
Chief Executive Officer Ian Jeffery said: “I would like to thank our members for engaging so positively with this extensive consultation. We are now working through the volumes of feedback we have collected during this process and want to give it all thorough consideration.
“It has become clear that January next year is not a realistic date by which to analyse all the evidence and take the next steps to ensure we have the best outcome possible.
“We have therefore decided to extend the period that both forms can be used until we have completed that work.”
Also worth a read:
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- ‘It’s about fairness’: Post Office Horizon victims still waiting for redress – Financial Times (£)
- Minister rejects plea by London civil servants to work 4-four day week - Standard
- Farmers threaten first national strike – Telegraph (£)
- Passengers fined for 'innocent ticket errors' as Northern Rail prosecutions double - inews
- Former Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk’s radical solution for the crown court backlog – Times (£)
- Sentences for some serious crimes could be cut under Labour prisons review – Telegraph (£)
- Assisted dying bill could pressure terminal patients, says Wes Streeting – Times (£)