Responding to the publication of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, chief executive of the children’s charity Bob Reitemeier said a rush to achieve financial savings has meant that children will miss out on good quality legal advice.
The government’s response to the consultation on reform of the legal aid system, announced by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, means that legal aid will be abolished for most housing, immigration and employment cases.
"There is a danger with these reforms that access to justice for children and young people will be seriously undermined," Reitemeier warned. "In a rush to achieve financial savings the government has failed to recognise that children and young people are different from adults. Their developmental nature and varying levels of maturity should be taken into consideration at all times.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
