suggested that children might lose their rights to Legal Aid, a recent consultation paper recently proposed, in view of the tightening of Government budgets. Pressure groups and Associations are all up in arms about it. It is unjust to deny justice to those abused in care, when millions are to be spent on childcare plans.
In the late 1990’s Legal Aid was abolished for all compensation claims other than assault cases against the Police or Public Authorities for abuse of power. Now the government may take it away from children who have been abused and the victims of assault by the police.
Opponents with assets, such as the Church, can push these types of case as far as they wish, in the hope that the survivor will run out of money. With Legal Aid, the scales of justice are more evenly balanced. Many survivors have been successful in obtaining compensation without having to suffer the trauma of going to court.
Without insurance they may have to put their house on the line if they want to go to court. New proposals mean that anyone with a house cannot get Legal Aid.
50 letters have gone out to MP’s and the Lord Chancellor, imploring them to do something about this denial of access to justice.
“It is very hard to come forward and talk about this, but people who’ve gone through years of abuse deserve access to justice. These days all the Government are interested in is saving money.”, says Peter Garsden, Vice President of ACAL and Abney Garsden McDonald solicitors, South Manchester.
For information and interviews, please contact :
Peter Garsden – 07721 585 202 / 0161 482 8822/ 01625 615112
HI,
My name is Adv. Shalini B. Patil I had read your programme and I like to join and help the child who is abuses by different category of people. you have done good work and giving very nice help to society.