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Poll shows public lack of confidence
in justice system
Bar Council response to Citizens Advice report
Polling results in the Citizens Advice report, Responsive justice: How citizens
experience the justice system, show that voters lack confidence in our legal
system and have concerns over access to justice.
Chairman-elect of the Bar, ChantalAimée Doerries QC said: “The report
from Citizens Advice will make
uncomfortable reading for those
holding the justice budget purse
strings. It shows that voters are not
satisfied with our system of justice or
their ability to access it when in need.
If further cuts are planned for the
Autumn Statement, the question will
be; how do we make sure access to
justice is not restricted even
further?”
The Citizens Advice report cites that 68%
of people think there should be better
access to the courts and the same number
think you need to be rich to afford to
pursue justice and exercise your rights.
Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC said:
“The idea that people who need to
use the courts are being subsidised
by the tax-payer is completely wrong.
It is because citizens have access to
justice that big businesses pay their
small firm suppliers in good time, that
parents can get the right pay and leave
from their employers, and that elderly
people get the care to which they are
entitled. When people use the courts
and other legal avenues to enforce the
law, it helps to ensure that we all play
by the rules. Without access to justice,
everyone will suffer because the rules
will cease to matter.”
only 14% of people surveyed thought
they could manage if they had to
represent themselves in court. When
asked what support people would find
most useful, ‘by far the most popular
ch