Figures obtained by CYP Now show that in 2009/10, when Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ) was still operating, a total of 98,643 new asylum and immigration cases were dealt with. According to Legal Services Commission (LSC) documents following a new tendering process, capacity among contracted providers will run to 93,655 cases a year until 2012/13, a drop of around five per cent.
Campaigners have said the drop in provision comes despite continuing high demand for legal services and despite government assurances that capacity would not fall after the demise of RMJ.
Jonathan Ellis, director of advocacy at the Refugee Council, said: "Late last year, we did a major service review and the one thing our clients told us they wanted improving was access to legal support. We are really concerned about this. For our clients, this is literally life or death. Difficulty accessing help undermines the chances of children getting status and protection."
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