The UK government has announced a £24 million investment to strengthen criminal legal aid services, aiming to address the ongoing crisis in the justice system and ensure that courts continue

to function effectively.

This funding will specifically support criminal legal aid work in police stations and Youth Courts, marking an initial step in the government's broader strategy to sustain the criminal legal aid sector. Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood confirmed that solicitors assisting individuals at police stations and in Youth Courts will receive additional funding, helping to alleviate some of the sector's pressing challenges.

The funding includes an £18.5 million increase dedicated to legal aid work in police stations, reinforcing access to justice as a critical element of the justice system and essential for advancing criminal cases through the courts. An additional £5.1 million will be allocated to Youth Court legal aid for serious offenses, acknowledging the complexity and severity of these cases.

Additionally, solicitors commuting to work in areas with fewer than two legal aid providers, including the Isle of Wight, will now receive reimbursement for their travel time. This move is part of a series of measures intended to stabilize a struggling sector and lay the groundwork for a more sustainable justice system.

Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood stated:

"Criminal legal aid solicitors are essential to our justice system, often tackling highly complex cases under challenging circumstances. The government is committed to improving the criminal legal aid sector, which has been neglected for years. This is the first step in stabilizing the sector and ensuring fair compensation for those handling these vital cases."

The funding follows the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR), which earlier this year recommended fee increases after identifying that existing police station and Youth Court fee schemes no longer aligned with the complexity of modern legal work. Work in police stations often involves unsociable hours, and the previous fee structure was outdated and overly complex. This funding will increase baseline fees and begin simplifying police station pay schemes to create a more navigable system.

Youth Court work, often involving organized crime and sexual assault cases, will benefit from this funding boost, enabling solicitor firms to provide better representation for young defendants facing serious charges.

Today’s announcement also coincides with the release of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board's annual report, which offers further recommendations for enhancing the criminal legal aid system, including additional fee increases.

The future structure of criminal legal aid fees remains under review as the Lord Chancellor evaluates her Budget to meet her justice reform agenda. Photo by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.